Amritsar/Islamabad: Indian death row prisoner Sarbjit Singh, who is languishing in a Pakistani jail for the last 19 years, has got a new lawyer, days after the Supreme Court in Islamabad dismissed his appeal against capital punishment.
Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur said she “no longer had faith” in Rana Abdul Hamid.
Hamid was not present during the two recent hearings of the review petition challenging the death sentence handed out to the Indian in 1991 for alleged involvement in four blasts in Pakistan.
Sarabjit's new lawyer Owis Sheikh said it was due to Hamid's “negligence” that the review petition was dismissed ex-parte and said he will file a fresh petition in the court.
“I'm filing a review petition -- his restoration application before the Supreme Court. This is one remedy available. If this is rejected, then the only remedy available is to file a mercy petition before the President of Pakistan,” Sheikh said in Islamabad.
The lawyer said carrying out the death sentence will “badly affect” relations between Pakistan and India.
“It will create a good atmosphere if he is pardoned. This is a very crucial case, internationally known. The President is keen to create good atmosphere and promote peace with India,” Sheikh said.
The lawyer said that he was optimistic that the capital punishment will not be carried out.
Hamid, however, claimed that he was still Sarabjit's lawyer. He said his tenure as Additional Advocate General of Punjab province ended on June 26 and he was again representing the Indian prisoner.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
 |
 |
 |
|
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.