Sarabjit’s martyrdom will not go waste: Bajwa
Friday, 03/05/2013
http://punjabnewsline.com/news/Sarabjit___s-martyrdom-will-not-go-waste_-Bajwa.html
BHIKHIWIND (AMRITSAR): Rahul Gandhi AICC General Secretary accompanied by Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today paid tributes to Sarabjit Singh who succumbed to a brutal attack in Pakistan jail here at his cremation in native village.
Rahul Gandhi stayed with the aggrieved family for about half an hour and offered condolences to Dalbir Kaur sister of Sarabjit Singh. He assured full support to the family. Bajwa said that martyrdom of Sarabjit Singh would not go waste. He said that demise of Sarabjit Singh had jolted the whole nation. He consoled the sister, wife and daughters of Sarabjit Singh. He said that Pakistan had violated human rights.
Others who attended the last rites of Sarabjit Singh included Gulchain Singh Charak member working committee AICC, Harish Chaudhary secretary in charge Punjab, Union minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur, Vijayinder Singla MP, O.P.Soni vice president PPCC and Raj Kumar Verka vice chairman SC commission. Bajwa a statement also appealed to SAD-BJP government not to politicize the sacrifice of Sarabjit Singh. PPCC thanked the Congress high command and UPA government for extending support to the family of Sarabjit Singh and for making continues efforts to secure his release.
Dalbir Kaur sister of Sarabjit Singh was in constant touch with the UPA government and she was facilitated at every step in her efforts to seek release of her brother. PPCC president said UPA government was seeking release of Sarabjit Singh on humanitarian grounds. Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh was assured by the former President Pervez Musharraf during their meeting in New York in 2005, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that he would look at the question of clemency to Sarabjit Singh in a humanitarian way. The matter was also taken up with the Pakistan President during his visit to India in March 2008.
Bajwa said that High Commission of India, Islamabad also assisted his sister Smt. Dalbir Kaur, his wife and two daughters during their visit to Pakistan from April 23-29, 2008. On April 24, 2008, the Govt. of Pakistan allowed the family to meet Sarabjit Singh in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore. His sister again visited Pakistan in June 2011, the High Commission interceded with the Pakistan authorities for arranging her meeting with Sarabjit Singh in the jail. He further said that following the reports about alleged poisoning and mental torture of Sarabjit Singh by officials in Kot Lakhpat Jail, the High Commission of India, Islamabad again requested the Government of Pakistan for special consular access for Sarabjit Singh.
Bajwa said that on April 26 Indian Mission started receiving reports of an attack on Sarabjit Singh in Kot Lakhpat Jail (Lahore). "Our Mission immediately contacted the Pakistan MoFA and demanded immediate consular access. The two-man consular team has remained stationed in Lahore since April 26", he added. Bajwa said that Pakistan initially agreed to grant only two family members visas. On intervention by External affairs ministry, Pakistani high commission in New Delhi was finally prevailed upon to grant visas to all 4 members of the family who had expressed desire to travel to Pakistan.
Bajwa said that it was unfortunate that Sarabjit Singh was attacked when center government was expecting his release from Pakistan jail. He said that lawyer of Sarabjit Singh reportedly filed another mercy petition with President of Pakistan on May 29, 2012. The decision of the President of Pakistan on these petitions was still pending.
