Amritsar, March 1
Disappointment was writ large on the faces of Parmjit Kaur, wife of Kashmir Singh who has been on the death row in a Pakistani jail, and other members of his family as he didn’t reach the Attari border today.
According to media reports, he could be released any time as the documentation was complete from both sides, governments of India and Pakistan, leading to the confusion on his release. He is likely to be released by the Pakistani authorities on Monday. Kashmir’s mercy plea had been accepted by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
His brother and physically challenged son had also reached the border check post with a hope of happy reunion with him.
Kashmir had been arrested in Rawalpindi in 1973 with another Indian who returned after serving a sentence of 10 years. A Pakistan military court had sentenced Kashmir to death.
Talking to The Tribune, his wife said she was extremely happy that Musharraf had accepted the mercy plea of her husband. Two of her sons are settled in Italy while the third one, Shishupal Singh (also married), lives with her in the village, she added.
The family has had nightmarish experience following the arrest of Kashmir about 35 years ago. “My husband too spent hellish days in the Pakistan’s jail.” To a question, Parmjit said the family had received only Rs 5,000 as “compensation” from certain government officials, who did not disclose their identity. “My husband used to tell us that he had got a job and hence used to cross over to Pakistan before he landed up in a jail there,” she said.
One can imagine the pain and sufferings the family had undergone all these years as they didn’t know whether Kashmir was alive. They say the relations of Kashmir are preparing to receive him in a true Punjabi style because it is no ordinary homecoming.
Meanwhile, mercy extended to Kashmir has raised a ray of hope for the family of Sarbjit Singh, who is also on the death row in a Pakistani jail. They pleaded that Sarbjit was a victim of mistaken identity.
