03-27-2007, 10:53 PM
Year old news, but not sure if it came to light. Those who compared the case of Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan prison to that of Afzal, should know this, that Sarabjit has converted to muhammedanism in hope to get the pardon.
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Agencies
New Delhi, April 6 Embracing Islam will not help Indian national Sarabjit Singh escape the noose for his alleged involvement in a series of bomb blasts in Lahore, Pakistan's Law Minister Muhammad Wasi Zafar said here today. Reacting to news reports that Sarabjit has converted to Islam, changed his name to Sarfaraz Ahmad and was offering namaz five times a day, he said Pakistani laws do not discriminate between religions and if he has been found guilty by the courts he has to face execution.
"That is the law of the land. It does not vary from man to man and faith to faith," Zafar, who is here to attend the 45th Annual Session of Asian African Legal Consultative Organization, said in an interview.
Asked if it was a desparate act on the part of a prisoner condemned to death in the Islamic country and awaiting a decision on his mercy petition from President Musharraf, Zafar said "he (Sarabjit) says he has done it according to his own free will. It dispels all such impressions." Explainig the legal position, he said even President Parvez Mushrraf did not have power to pardon Sarabjit, as the matter fell within the jurisdiction of the Interior Minister.
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20060407/0704181.htm
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Islam won't help SarabjitÂ
Agencies
New Delhi, April 6 Embracing Islam will not help Indian national Sarabjit Singh escape the noose for his alleged involvement in a series of bomb blasts in Lahore, Pakistan's Law Minister Muhammad Wasi Zafar said here today. Reacting to news reports that Sarabjit has converted to Islam, changed his name to Sarfaraz Ahmad and was offering namaz five times a day, he said Pakistani laws do not discriminate between religions and if he has been found guilty by the courts he has to face execution.
"That is the law of the land. It does not vary from man to man and faith to faith," Zafar, who is here to attend the 45th Annual Session of Asian African Legal Consultative Organization, said in an interview.
Asked if it was a desparate act on the part of a prisoner condemned to death in the Islamic country and awaiting a decision on his mercy petition from President Musharraf, Zafar said "he (Sarabjit) says he has done it according to his own free will. It dispels all such impressions." Explainig the legal position, he said even President Parvez Mushrraf did not have power to pardon Sarabjit, as the matter fell within the jurisdiction of the Interior Minister.
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20060407/0704181.htm
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