Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash
Introduction
Sarabjit Singh a native of Punjab was sentenced to death on charges of spying and for his alleged involvement in bombings in Pakistan's Punjab province in 1990 which resulted in the deaths of at least 14 Pakistani citizens. However, his family and Indian authorities completely denied these accusations. According to his family, Sarabjit Singh unintentionally crossed the Pakistan border while he was farming. After spending more than two decades in a Pakistani prison, Sarabjit Singh passed away in May 2013. He was held at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore for 23 years until he was assaulted by fellow inmates, reportedly including Amir Sarfaraz.
This attack occurred shortly after the execution of Afzal Guru, who was convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack in India. Following the assault, Sarabjit Singh was admitted to Jinnah Hospital in Lahore with severe brain injuries sustained from being struck on the head with bricks by a group of prisoners. Despite medical treatment, he succumbed to his injuries and his body was sent back to India. Throughout Sarabjit Singh's imprisonment, his elder sister, Dalbir Kaur, tirelessly campaigned for his release.
In 2016, a Hindi film called 'Sarabjit' was released, featuring actors Randeep Hooda and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The movie depicted the struggles of Dalbir Kaur as she fought for her brother's freedom based on her real-life experiences.
What were the charges faced by Sarabjit Singh in the Pakistan trial?
Sarabjit Singh, a prisoner in Pakistan faced serious charges related to espionage and his alleged involvement in a series of bombings back in 1990, sparking significant controversy in India. Despite numerous appeals for mercy by his legal representatives none were granted, leading to his eventual death sentence. Pakistan claimed he was Manjit Singh Rattu. Singh was convicted of spying for India and spent 16 years in Pakistani jails before his tragic murder. His family maintained his innocence asserting that his entry into Pakistan was a result of by mistake. In 1990, he unlawfully crossed into Pakistan where he was apprehended and accused of participating in bombings in Faisalabad, Multan, and Lahore, resulting in the deaths of 14 Pakistani citizens. Although he was initially sentenced to death in 1991, the execution was reportedly postponed by the Pakistani government.
What was the confusion regarding names?
The confusion between Surjeet Singh and Sarabjit Singh arose when on June 27, 2012, the then-President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, approved a document from the country's interior ministry commuting Singh's death sentence to life imprisonment. Typically, a life sentence in Pakistan spans 14 years. As Sarabjit had already spent 22 years behind bars news of his impending release spread joy in his village.
However, this joy turned to disappointment when the Pakistani government clarified that it was Surjeet Singh, not Sarabjit Singh who would be released. Surjeet Singh faced similar charges of spying, although the Indian government refuted these allegations. Surjeet Singh himself attributed the mix-up to the similarity in Urdu spellings of both names, highlighting the confusion that followed.
The announcement was made that the release order was intended for a different prisoner, Surjeet Singh, who had been pardoned in 1989, not for Sarabjit Singh. This news was met with condemnation from Sarabjit's family, who saw it as a cruel joke. In response, Surjeet Singh filed a new mercy appeal to the President of Pakistan on the 65th independence day of the country.
On August 23, 2005, Sarabjit Singh's case was discussed in both houses of the Indian Parliament, prompting calls for the government to take action for his release. In March 2008, Sarabjit Singh's family travelled to Pakistan. During their visit, they met with several influential Pakistani politicians including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in an attempt to appeal for Sarabjit's release. Sharif expressed sympathy for Sarabjit's family, acknowledging the pain they were going through. However, he suggested that Sarabjit could be released on the condition that India would take him back if further evidence against him emerged.
Meanwhile, India's External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh engaged with Pakistan's High Commissioner, Aziz Ahmed Khan to express Delhi's hope that Islamabad would address Sarabjit Singh's case as a humanitarian issue. This diplomatic effort aimed to advocate for Sarabjit's release and ensure that his case received appropriate attention and consideration.
Attack on Sarabjit Singh: The gruesome killing of an Innocent Indian National
On April 26, 2013, Sarabjit Singh was viciously attacked around 4:30 pm while in the Central Jail Lahore (Kot Lakhpat jail) by fellow prisoners wielding bricks, sharp metal sheets, iron rods, and blades. The assault left him critically injured with severe head trauma, a broken backbone, and in a coma requiring placement on a ventilator at Jinnah Hospital in Lahore. Conflicting reports emerged regarding the attack with some suggesting six assailants were involved while others claimed there were only two. Additionally, discrepancies arose regarding the location of the assault, with some sources stating it occurred within his cell while others indicated it happened during an hour-long break outside his cell.
Singh's family alleged that the attack was planned and involved conspiracy with jail authorities. This suspicion was heightened by threats he received next to the execution of Afzal Guru in February 2013 for his involvement in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. Despite appeals from India, including requests for his release on humanitarian grounds or for medical treatment in India, Pakistan repeatedly denied these pleas. Legal efforts were also made to transfer Singh abroad for medical care including appeals to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Despite efforts to save him, Singh was declared brain dead on May 1, 2013 at Jinnah Hospital. However, Pakistani authorities remained silent on the matter. His family, suspecting foul play returned to India, voicing concerns about the honesty of the attending doctors and the hesitation of Pakistani medical staff. Singh passed away on May 2, 2013, at 12:45 am local time, after being removed from ventilator support due to a worsening condition. His body was swiftly transported to India through a special aircraft.
Following his death, Indian doctors discovered that vital organs were missing during a second postmortem examination, sparking further controversy and suspicion surrounding the circumstances of his demise.
Murder of Aamir Sarfaraz: Accused involved in killing of Sarabjit Singh
This news report details the murder of Aamir Sarfaraz also known as Tamba, who was accused of being involved in the 2013 jailhouse killing of Indian national Sarabjit Singh.
The Incident: On Sunday morning, two unidentified men on a motorcycle entered Tamba's residence in Lahore's Islampura area. They shot Tamba four times - twice in the chest and twice in the legs. Tamba was critically injured and succumbed to excessive bleeding at a hospital.
Little Background on the plot of the story : In 2013, Singh was attacked by fellow inmates and later died from his injuries. Tamba was one of the accused in Singh's jailhouse killing.
Following the Shooting: Tamba's family stated he had been receiving threats for some time. Police launched an investigation and cleaned off the area to search for the attackers. A murder case was registered at Islampura police station based on a complaint by Tamba's brother.
Previous Developments: In 2018, a Pakistani court acquitted Tamba and another suspect due to a lack of evidence in Sarabjit Singh's killing. The motive behind Tamba's murder remains unclear. The attackers haven't been identified yet. This event reopens the case of Sarabjit Singh's death in Pakistan custody.
'This is not justice': Sarabjit Singh's daughter on death of his killer Amir Sarfaraz
Swapandeep Kaur, the daughter of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner on death row in Pakistan. She expressed her initial satisfaction upon hearing that her father's killer, Amir Sarfaraz Tamba, was shot dead in Lahore. However, she quickly realized that this event did not equate to justice. In an interview with a news channel, she emphasized her family's desire for a trial to uncover the motives behind her father's killing and to identify those responsible.
Kaur's satisfaction initially stemmed from a sense of closure but upon reflection, she recognized that true justice would involve a thorough investigation and legal proceedings. She went on to allege that the Pakistan government planned her father's death in 2013. According to her, if Sarabjit Singh had been released by the Pakistani authorities earlier, he could have revealed information about his mistreatment while imprisoned at Kot Lakhpat Jail.
Furthermore, Kaur accused the Pakistan government of being part of Sarfaraz's killing. She suggested that if multiple individuals were involved in her father's murder, it could indicate an attempt by Pakistan to conceal the larger conspiracy behind the event. In essence, she believes that the killing of Sarfaraz was part of an effort to suppress the truth about her father's unjust treatment and death.
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