Islamabad: Sarabjit Singh, on death row for alleged involvement in bomb attacks in Pakistan in 1990, can be pardoned only by the victims families following rejection of his mercy petition by President Pervez Musharraf, said a top official of Punjab province where the Indian prisoner is set to be hanged on April 1.

"Under Pakistani law, it is the family of the victims which has the right to pardon if all other efforts fail. We don't think that anybody has approached the family of the victims," Punjab province Home Secretary Khusro Pervaiz told Dawn News channel, while claiming that there was "sufficient proof" of Sarabjit's involvement in the attacks.

Sarabjit, lodged in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail, was sentenced to death in 1991 for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people in 1990. His family denies he was a spy as claimed by Pakistan and insists he accidentally strayed into Pakistani territory.

"This case...was not simple espionage. It was a case where four acts of terrorism took place and (Sarabjit) was fully involved in that. Innocent lives were lost and how can he be released?" Pervaiz said. "On the basis of that evidence and proof, he has been convicted and he will be hanged on April 1."

The Indian High Commission has sought consular access to Sarabjit. Officials from the Indian mission were last granted consular access to Sarabjit in 2005.

Top officials at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail, including its Superintendent Javed Latif, said yesterday they had received Sarabjit's death warrant and he would be executed on April 1.

The mercy petition of Sarabjit, who Pakistan claims is Manjit Singh, was rejected by Musharraf on March 3. Pakistan's Supreme Court too had rejected Sarabjit's plea for clemency in March 2006.
Source : PTI