Pakistan cannot afford to hang Sarabjit. It will cause an international embarrassment. And they are not foolish enough to add another black mark to their not-too-flattering image. And this is the case precisely because the Indian media has highlighted the case, not in spite of it. Yes, public sentiment in Pakistan is for hanging the man, but then public sentiment was also with the Taliban when Mush performed his much talked about u-turn. Since when did Musharraf start to listen to Pakistani public sentiment when faced with a crisis? Besides, I really doubt the same author would have critisized another country, albeit more powerful, if they were looking out for their own citizens. Do you think the United States, or even Israel, or any Nato country, or even any Arab country would leave their citizens to rot in Pakistani jails, or be tried by their kangaroo courts? The peace process is not bigger than the safety and security and lives of the citizens of this country. In fact, THIS is what the peace process is all about. How is it that this does not constitute terrorism on the part of Pakistan to the family and well wishers of Sarabjit?
Why is evryone whoz opposing this article thinking from the Indian perspective only. What if sarabjit is really a RAW agent and got the punishment. Indian govt. never denied or accepted that.
Lets say, still our govt. asked for his clemency and got him released.
After a few days, a dreaded terrorist of ISI is arrested in India and awarded death sentence. then Pakistan will ofcourse use this oppurtunity to get him released so that he can go back to pakistan and continue his activities again.
I think what the author is saying is correct. we shud have tried this using back-channel diplomacy and let them do what they want. Then, we don't have to reciprocate the same if someday its our turn.
What if his name was Tilson John, will your recommendations still be the same?? don't forget that the peace process has to be a two way path not a one way street where India keep on walking alone and making many a gestures to initiate some sort of dialogue with Pakistan and every time they are snubbed by our counterparts on some flimsy reasons. Wouldn't it bolster the Pakistan's claim and show sincerity on their part to pardon Sarabjit Singh.
Pakistan's propaganda machinery (read media)has been bombarding the populace for so long with one sided views that today an average person their sees the world with an one sided glass.
India has been releasing Pakistani prisoners for a long time now and many times those have been unilateral decision of Indian government, where were your views to demand the similar action from our neighbors??..it's not that I'm dead against your views but then remember for a dialogue there are atleast two people or else it is just a monologue.
I may not have a journalistic acumen like you but for a common man I think I have valid and justified views. Why to take moral high ground where you will be standing all alone...
Kudos to Mr. Wilson John for writing a pragmatic and sensible article/comments on Sarabjit case. The BJP led media created undesirable heat in this case giving no consideration to major national interests. Sarabjit nay Manjit was definitely given a fair trial in Pakistan otherwise his case could not have reached to the Supreme Court. It is not known how this case went up to the level of supreme court when the person was already given death penalty by the lower courts. May the tribe of thinkers like Wilson John increase in the larger interests of Bharat.
Sir, I very much agree with Wilson John that the Sarabjit issue has been blown out of proportion by the media. Sarabjit has been in Pakistan for over 12 yrs now and has gone through a long legal process in that country. Why his relatives did not force or take up the issue during this period? However, sympathy on account of his being innocent has evolved only after a death sentence has been passed on him.
Suddenly he alone has become the blue eyed boy of the Indian Nation (through the hype created by the media) who seem to have accepted him to be innocent.
Whatever his criminal status may be, it should certainly not result in a compromise situation for the Indian PM to force release of hard core Pak criminals or of jeopardising the progress of the peace process initiated jointly.
Pakistan's sincerity & reliability towards this end as it is, is limited and it would not be out of place for them to cash in or exploit this situation & opportunity to their advantage.
So the Indian Govt be cautious to safeguard national interest vis a vis liberty of an individual with doubtful innocence. So should the media avoid undue hypes. It is a sad story.
If Sarabjit or for that matter anybody has really committed a crime of endangering the lives of civilians be it pakisthanis or indians by involving in FIVE bomb blasts, He MUST be hanged publicly. This has got nothing to do with the peace process and INDIA should not bow her head down to any country for a CRIMINAL.
The article must be a joke. Am very amused, havn't read such a humerous piece for a long time. National Interest vs. Sarabjit! The Pecking order of preference should be like this - 1.National Interest 2.Nation's interest (two are not equal, national interest has certain degree of relativity attached to it, meaning anybody can say or do anything or cannot say or do anything and attribute it to national interest, that anybody is particularly a father figure in the nation, while nation's interest is the collective interest of the society, economy and culture of a nation) 3. Nation (ya, nation's interest should come before the nation...after all my own interests should come first before myself) 4. Nationality 5. Nationalism 6. last and least Sarabjit, u and me.. after all... we are nothg.. though the nation is nothing without us
We shouldn't give any chance to Pakistan for bargaining after such type of matters. But in this matter, it will happen, so Indian Govt. shouldn't show it's interest. And for this NHRC is there. Can Indian Govt. release any Person who belongs to Pakistan & who has charges just like Mr. Sarabjit? We know the answer. So, there is no need to take interest in Sarabjit case & asking for mercy from Pakistan.
