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Old news but relevant.
Rights activist to take up Sarabjit case with Pak prez
25 Jun 2009, 0337 hrs IST, Supriya Bhardwaj, TNN
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CHANDIGARH: Having unlocked the gate to freedom for over 300 Pakistanis who had been cooling their heels in Indian jails, human rights activist
Ranjan Lakhanpal felt cheated on Wednesday.
How can they dismiss Sarabjit Singh’s review petition without proper legal representation? he asked, reacting to news of death row Indian prisoner Sarabjit’s mercy plea being turned down as his counsel failed to appear in court.
Rattled by the development, Lakhanpal, 54, who had taken up Sarabjit’s case with many authorities on numerous occasions in India as well as Pakistan, decided his next move in no time. ‘‘I will visit Pakistan in July and will personally take up his issue with authorities concerned. Along with Ansar Burney, I will meet the Pakistan president and will plead mercy for Sarabjit,’’ he said.
As the Indian government too hoped Islamabad would take a sympathetic and humanitarian view in the case, Lakhanpal said, ‘‘Unfortunately, human beings are used as tools for political reasons.’’ Explaining the legal procedure involved, Lakhanpal said, ‘‘Laws in both countries are same. Criminal cases and appeals can’t be dismissed on ground that lawyers failed to appear before court.”
Rights activist to take up Sarabjit case with Pak prez
25 Jun 2009, 0337 hrs IST, Supriya Bhardwaj, TNN
Print Email Discuss Share Save Comment Text:
CHANDIGARH: Having unlocked the gate to freedom for over 300 Pakistanis who had been cooling their heels in Indian jails, human rights activist
Ranjan Lakhanpal felt cheated on Wednesday.
How can they dismiss Sarabjit Singh’s review petition without proper legal representation? he asked, reacting to news of death row Indian prisoner Sarabjit’s mercy plea being turned down as his counsel failed to appear in court.
Rattled by the development, Lakhanpal, 54, who had taken up Sarabjit’s case with many authorities on numerous occasions in India as well as Pakistan, decided his next move in no time. ‘‘I will visit Pakistan in July and will personally take up his issue with authorities concerned. Along with Ansar Burney, I will meet the Pakistan president and will plead mercy for Sarabjit,’’ he said.
As the Indian government too hoped Islamabad would take a sympathetic and humanitarian view in the case, Lakhanpal said, ‘‘Unfortunately, human beings are used as tools for political reasons.’’ Explaining the legal procedure involved, Lakhanpal said, ‘‘Laws in both countries are same. Criminal cases and appeals can’t be dismissed on ground that lawyers failed to appear before court.”