New Delhi, April 14
Pakistan today rejected the visa applications of Sarbjit Singh’s family. They were informed today that since they did not have an invitation from any person in Pakistan, the visa could not be granted.
The family had applied for visa on April 9 in what was a last ditch effort to save the life of Sarbjit Singh, the Indian facing alleged charges of spying in Pakistan. His hanging has been stayed till April 30 and the family had hoped that they would personally go and plead for mercy.
The Pakistan High Commission today rejected the applications of Sarbjit’s wife Sukhpreet Kaur, his sister Dalbir Kaur, his two young daughters Swapandeep Kaur and Poonam and his brother-in-law Baldev Singh.
The family has been advised to appear before the visa officer today and had hoped that Baisakhi would bring good news.
Normally, a visa to Pakistan is not granted the same day and the application could not be processed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The family was planning to meet Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari besides offering prayers at Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib and, of course, meeting Sarbjit Singh in jail.
Dalbir Kaur, Sarbjit’s sister, said that Pakistan human rights minister Ansar Burney was informed about the development this evening and we have requested him to arrange for an invite. In case the invite in arranged, the family will re-apply for visa.
She said the family will approach the Ministry of External Affairs tomorrow and seek its intervention in getting a visa and also to take up the case of Sarbjit afresh.
Sarbjit’s hanging was stayed after the Indian government intervened last month and got a grace period. The issue came into the forefront after General Pervez Musharraf had recently rejected the mercy petition of Sarabjit. He is in prison for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in 1990.
In case the visa in granted, it will the first meeting of the family with Sarbjit in more than decade.
