Living behind the bars for 22 long years
serving a death sentence pronounced years ago and the hopes being pardoned and
going back to his native country dying each day is certainly one of the most
painful and dreaded trauma that one can face in his/her lifetime.
Sarabjit Singh who was convicted of
terrorism and spying by Pakistani court and was tried and convicted by The
Supreme Court of Pakistan for a series of bomb attacks in Lahore and Faisalabad
that killed 14 bystanders, in 1990, finally took his last breathe on 2nd
May’2013 at 12:45am at the Jinnah Hospital, Lahore after he was attacked by
fellow prisoners in the Central jail Lahore (Kot Lakhpat jail).
With Sarabjit’s death there’s seems to
be a permanent lock on the Indo-Pak political diplomacy and round of peace talks
has perhaps closed its eyes forever, further worsening the relation between the
two countries..
As the name suggests PAKISTAN which
signifies ‘Land of Pure’, however the course of action of this country and the
way they have introspected every situation has certainly contradicted the name.
Sarabjit’s case was another live and strong example of that. This is obviously
not a stereotyped opinion, but certain fact clearly indicates it.
Starting from the attack on Sarabjit
when in prison, reports suggest that the attack on him was carried out using bricks,
sharp metal sheets, iron rods and blades. This certainly gives a big reason to
think and gives birth to serious suspicion. Over the years Sarabjit has popped
up as renowned figure among the world diplomats and the perhaps everyone is
well aware how sensitive the matter was, so how come Pakistan didn’t even take
care of the minimal security measures for Sarabjit. Moreover, it’s really
shocking how fatal articles like blade, sharp metals, iron rod etc. were
available for the attack.
Secondly, if we move a few steps back,
after the 2001 Parliament Attack Convict, Afzal Guru was executed, Sarabjit
Singh was continuously threatened, and finally he is attacked and killed. This
certainly gives a huge reason to worry. Further according to the recent news
after Sarabjit’s body was returned to India and a second autopsy was being conducted
by a group of doctors, they were shocked to find that his vital organs like
kidney, heart, stomach etc. were missing. These organs are of utmost importance
to find the cause of death, but why Pakistan didn’t want India to know
Sarabjit’s cause of death, only they can give the answer to it.
A British lawyer, Jas Uppal, campaigning
for his release, pointed to several problems with the prosecution in the trial.
Some of them were
His identity was never verified or
proved in court and no forensic evidence was provided at his trial to link him
to the bomb attacks. Secondly, the trial was conducted in English, whereas
Sarabjit does not speak or understand English, and an interpreter was not
provided.
In the past there had been numerous
instances of Pakistan back stabbing India, and this one too perhaps falls in
that category. An Indian prisoner is attacked and killed inside the prison, but
as of now the officials themselves doesn’t have any clearly information even
about the number of attackers. Though reports suggest that, two were arrested
but official confirmation still waited. These certainly raise serious questions
on Pakistan’s accountability and off course mentality.
Sarabjit left forever, but who is
actually responsible for his death. Is it Sarabjit himself as under the
influence of alcohol, he unknowingly crossed the border? Is it the government
of India who could have done more to bring back Sarabjit or it is Pakistan for
obvious? One is still longing for the answer.
Someone have very rightly pointed out,
that death was perhaps more peaceful for Sarabjit as rather than dying each day
for 22years, closing the eyes forever was far better. In Pakistan the life term
imprisonment is of maximum 14 years, but Sarabjit was serving in jail for 22
long years. Certainly his hopes had died long back; it was only his body that
left for the heavenly journey.
By - Shamim Zakaria