With Indian death row prisoner, Sarabjit Singh slipping into deep coma, the risk of India Pakistan relations deteriorating further cannot be ruled out. Sarabjit Singh has been strapped to a ventilator and the Pakistani Government realizing the gravity of the matter has decided to issue visas to the family of Sarabjit Singh.
Sarabjit was admitted to a Lahore hospital after two fellow inmates in the prison attacked him with Bricks and wounded him, almost fatally. Pakistan has now realized the political consequences of this incident and has directed the hospital administration to provide the best possible medical treatment to Sarabjit Singh. They fear that any adverse handing of the situation can bring a bad name to the state and can cast its spell on the bilateral ties.
In the view of Kasab and Afzal Guru’s hangings, Sarabjit has pleaded for increased security as he was receiving threats from fellow inmates. However, Pakistani administration paid little heed to his requests and the result was that the Indian prisoner was bashed up badly by some of his fellow inmates.
The visibly embarrassed Pakistanis have now allowed India consular access and have also slapped murder charges against those who hit Sarabjit. A Pakistan foreign office spokesperson came out with a statement that owing to a scuffle between prisoners in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Sarabjit Singh suffered head injuries. A case has been registered against Amer Aftab and Mudassar and murder charges have been slapped. However, as per sources over 6 people were involved in the assault.
Meanwhile, Sarabjit’s family has expressed deep concern over the incident and have claimed that they had pleaded to take up the case rigorously with the Pakistani authorities and ensure that Sarabjit Singh is safe. India has meanwhile reacted to the incident. In a terse statement, the Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh has described the incident as a sad happening.
Sarabjit Singh’s daughter Poonam told media that they had received a letter 3 weeks before from Sarabjit where he had expressed the fears of such an incident. However, nothing much was done n part of India and the result is for everyone to see.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Human Rights Activist Ansar Burney sees a political plot behind the incident. Elections are due in Pakistan in May and the incident can be seen as a political plot to attract support from fundamental elements. These fundamentalists have been advocating against friendly ties with India and parties having fundamental affiliations are set to gain from any such incident that results in India bashing.
Sadly, a precious human life is at stake and those interested in deriving political mileage from the incident in Pakistan are trying to make the most of the occasion. India needs to highlight this grievous incident on an appropriate political platform to make the Pakistani government realize that it needs to handle incidents of such magnitude with more sensitivity than the administration is showing presently.
