Thaindian News

Amritsar, July 5 (IANS) Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner lodged in Pakistan’s Kot Lakhpat jail on terrorism charges, Tuesday said that conditions were quite favourable in Pakistan for her brother’s release.

She said this on her return to India after nearly a month-long visit to the neighbouring country.

Dalbir walked into Indian territory through the Attari-Wagah land border checkpost. She was wearing a green printed suit and carried gifts for Sarabjit’s daughters, Swapandeep Kaur and Poonam, which were sent by their father.

“I met many political leaders, lawyers and human rights activists in Pakistan. They are all ready to give support for Sarabjit’s release. Conditions are very favourable in Pakistan. It was for the first time that Pakistan jail authorities and even media were addressing my brother with his real name Sarabjit instead of Manjit Singh,” an elated Dalbir told IANS Tuesday.

“I managed to meet my brother two times; on June 16 and 30. He has become very weak but still he was happy. He wants to return home at the earliest. He has sent some gifts for his daughters,” she added.

However, Dalbir was unhappy over the Indian government’s “casual approach” towards Indian prisoners who are lodged in Pakistani jails.

“I feel sad that the Indian government has not approached the Pakistan authorities in an appropriate way. If they had taken this issue seriously, then my brother would have been released long time back. I also met two other Indian prisoners who were lodged there,” she said.

Dalbir went to Pakistan June 6 through the Attari-Wagah land route to meet Sarabjit. She went on a one-month tourist visa.

Swapandeep Kaur, elder daughter of Sarabjit, told IANS: “I am very happy that my bua (aunt) has met my father twice. She is very convinced about my father’s release after this visit.”

Sarabjit’s family claimed that he had crossed into Pakistan inadvertently in August 1990 in an inebriated state and was arrested there. But the police in Pakistan claim Sarabjit Singh, who is known as Manjit Singh there, was involved in acts of terrorism.

He is languishing in Pakistan jails for the last more than 20 years and is convicted of staging four bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan in 1990 that claimed 14 lives.

Dalbir said her brother has “appealed to the government of India to work for the rescue of Indian prisoners in Pakistan. He said many Indians have gone mad as they could not contact their relatives in India. Sarabjit has also urged that the visa rules between the two countries be relaxed.”