Zardari can decide on Sarabjit Singh's release: Pak Law Minister
6 Oct 2008, 1647 Hrs

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Lahore, Oct 6 Pakistan's Law Minister Farooq H. Naek today said that President Asif Ali Zardari can decide on the case of Sarabjit Singh, who was arrested on charges of terrorism and is facing the death penalty.

Naek, while talking to media persons at Kot Lakhpat jail here, said that he met Sarabjit on the directive of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Zardari.

He said that he asked the jail authorities to provide details of Sarabjit's case, adding President can exercise his power to release any prisoner under article 45 of the constitution.

Sarabjit was arrested by the Pakistani security officials after implicating him in bomb attacks in Lahore and Faisalabad which had claimed lives of 14 innocent people.

According to the court record, Sarabjit Singh had confessed his involvement in the bomb blasts. According to the record, he was arrested when he was crossing the border in August 1990.

Nine days later, he was produced before a magistrate as 'Manjit Singh', a man wanted for acts of terrorism in Pakistan. Before the magistrate, he confessed to his crime.

Sarabjit was originally set to be hanged on April 1 and his execution was initially deferred for 30 days by former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. This was done so that the new Pakistan People's Party-led government could review his case following India's appeal for clemency. (ANI)