ISLAMABAD, March 19: President Pervez Musharraf has deferred the execution of condemned Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh for 30 days following fresh Indian diplomatic moves to get a reprieve for him.
“The president of Pakistan has been pleased to stay the execution of condemned prisoner Manjeet Singh alias Sarabjit Singh for a period of 30 days up to April 30, 2008,” said a presidential order issued on Wednesday.
Sarabjit was sentenced to death for his involvement in four bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people. His execution was earlier fixed for April 1.
The Supreme Court rejected his mercy petition in March 2006 and upheld the death sentence. President Musharraf had rejected his mercy petition on March 3.
Sources said the execution had been deferred to get time to consider India’s clemency plea made on Tuesday.
The Indian government stressed that the execution would impinge on the ‘positive atmosphere’ between the two countries, particularly in view of a perception that the sudden decision to hang him was in retaliation for the unfortunate death of Pakistani prisoner Khalid Mehmood in a jail in India.
Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur has also sent a written appeal to President Musharraf.
Islamabad’s decision was reciprocated by New Delhi which released Pakistani prisoner Jamal Qureshi who had been arrested by Indian authorities in 2005 for possessing counterfeit Indian currency.
Reuters adds: Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Indian parliament about President Musharraf’s decision.
The deputy superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore said: “We have received orders from the President’s House whereby the punishment has been deferred.”
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