New Delhi, October 4
With Rashtrapati Bhavan promptly referring the clemency petition filed by family members of Mohammad Afzal, convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack case, to the Centre, the Union Home Ministry today sought the Delhi Government’s views on the issue.

The Centre also communicated to Superintendent of Tihar Jail, where Afzal is lodged, informing him that the Home Ministry has received a clemency petition and that it is under consideration of the ministry.

The Centre has not set any timeframe for the Delhi Government to give its opinion.

“The Union Home Ministry has received from Rashtrapati Bhavan a copy of the clemency petition filed by Afzal’s wife Tabassum to the office of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam yesterday,” an official spokesperson told newspersons here.

Whenever the Home Ministry is referred a clemency petition by Rashtrapati Bhavan, it seeks the opinion of the state government where the crime had occurred and the state government in turn seeks the details from the area DM or the SDM before forwarding its opinion on the petition to the Centre.

The Centre then forms its considered opinion and conveys it to the President’s Secretariat for further action.

New Delhi, October 4
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will give a personal hearing tomorrow to the family of Mohammed Afzal Guru, who is facing execution in the terrorist attack on Parliament.

Rashtrapati Bhavan sources said the meeting would take place at 1.45 p.m.

Afzal’s wife Tabassum, who submitted a clemency petition for her husband yesterday, had also requested for a personal hearing by the President.

Afzal’s wife, his mother Ayesha Begum and his seven-year-old son Ghalib would be meeting the President along with lawyers Nandita Haksar and N.D. Panchauli. — PTI