New Delhi, Apr 10: Sarabjit Singh, the Indian national languishing in Pakistan jail has received support from unexpected quarters.
 The Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman, Justice Markandey Katju has appealed to Pakistan President, Asif Ali Zardari to release the Indian national currently confined in a Pakistani jail.
 In a letter addressed to Zardari through the Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Katju said that Zardari's visit to India and Ajmer Sharif had created a climate for good relations between the two countries. "I am appealing to you to order release of Sarabjit Singh and his return to India as a humanitarian gesture, exercising your power of pardon as the Pakistan President," Katju wrote in his letter.
 He added: "By doing so you will add to the excellent impression among Indians created by your recent visit to Delhi and Ajmer Sharif."
 Justice Katju also mentioned the fact that Zardari had earlier honoured an appeal made by a Bench of the Indian Supreme Court consisting of Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra and himself, to release Gopal Das, an Indian who had spent 27 years in Pakistani jails.
 He reminded Zardari that the Supreme Court had quoted the famous couplet of Pakistani Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz: "Qafas udaas hai yaaron saba se kuch to kaho Kaheen to behar-e-khuda aaj zikr-e-yaar chale" in that judgement.
 Thanking Zardari for releasing Gopal Das, Katju appealed "for similar generosity in the case of one Sarabjit Singh also who has been on death row in a Pakistani jail for over 20 years."

Lastupdate on : Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
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