Surjit Singh case update


Surjit Singh case update

In response to a petition filed for the release of two Indian prisoners, Satinder Paul Singh and Karale Bhanudas who had completed their term of imprisonment but remained confined in Pakistani jail, the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court in November 2011 ordered the release of all 74 foreign prisoners who have served their terms.

On Jan 31, 2012, advocate Awais Sheikh filed a contempt of court petition in Lahore High Court against the foreign affairs secretary for not ensuring the release of 74 foreign prisoners, including 33 Indians from various jails of the Punjab, despite court orders. In his petition, he stated that the Chief Justice of the LHC had directed the foreign affairs secretary to release all these prisoners, but despite a lapse of three months, the order had not been implemented.

Logo..He also pleaded for the list of prisoners to be released to include Indian prisoner Surjit Singh who has spent five years more in prison than his awarded sentence but whose name was excluded from the list of prisoners submitted in court by Superintendent Central Jail Lahore.

Surjit Singh was arrested in 1982 on charges of espionage. A military court had awarded him the death sentence. Then military dictator Gen. Zial ul Haq did not act on the mercy petition, but later then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment. Surjit Singh completed his life sentence completed five years ago.

The Court issued a notice to Pakistan’s Secretary Interior seeking his reply and comments. Assistant Advocate General appearing on behalf of State has sought adjournments on the plea that reply/comments of the Defence ministry are awaited. When this plea was used to seek adjournment for the fourth time at the last hearing on Feb 27, 2012, Advocate Awais Sheikh strongly objected, calling it “delaying tactics”.

The Court observed that further delay will not be allowed and has directed the Assistant Advocate General to appear at the next hearing, on March 16th, with a reply, observing, “otherwise there is no bar on court to decide the case on merits in accordance with law and justice”.

“Why is he not being released?” asked Awais Sheikh. “Is there any law that allows keeping a prisoner in jail even after the awarded sentence is completed? We have to decide on the point of law and justice. Justice must prevail.”

“Let the prisoners of each other’s country not be tools in the hands of the bureaucracy, be it military or civilian,” Sheikh added.

Let humanity prevail.

– aka




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