BADAL ANNOUNCES ALL POSSIBLE HELP FOR REHABILITATION OF SURJEET SINGH
Chandigarh, June 29- Punjab Vidhan Sabha today unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Government of India (GoI) to again take up the matter of the release of Indian convict Mr Sarabjeet Singh, who was on death row with the Pakistan Government.
A resolution to this effect was moved by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal in the legislative assembly, which also requested the GoI to take necessary steps for the release of several Prisoners of War (PoW) and other Indians who were languishing in jails of Pakistan due to legal impediments.
Expressing happiness over the recent release of Mr Surjeet Singh, who had spent almost 30 years of his life in Pakistan jail, the Chief Minister felicitated him, his family members, all the Punjabis and countrymen on behalf of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and SAD-BJP alliance government. He also announced that Punjab Government would seriously contemplate to extend appropriate help for the rehabilitation of Mr Surjeet Singh within the legal frame work, as per the wishes of his family.
The Chief Minister in the resolution further said that he along with the entire countrymen welcomed the decision for release of Mr Surjeet Singh and felt the need to create an atmosphere of harmony between both the countries, which would be beneficial for people across the border, by releasing Mr Sarabjeet Singh, who was on death row since long. Mr Badal also mentioned that the immediate release of Mr Sarabjeet Singh would further boost the ties between both the nations in the present cordial scenario, especially created after the opening of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari. The Chief Minister said that he had already taken up the issue for seeking release of Mr Sarabjeet Singh with the Union Government several times personally and through correspondence also. The resolution also specifically pointed out that even some organizations in Pakistan have also raised the issue of Sarabjeet’s innocence.
No.CMO-12/171
