Campaign for Indian man on death row for spying in Pakistan

Описание: (25 Aug 2005)

August 25, 2005
1. Various, stills of convicted Indian Sarabjit Singh''s family
2. Various of newspaper headlines
3. Pakistani high commissioner in India Aziz Ahmed Khan shaking hands with Indian foreign minister Natwar Singh
4. Cutaway cameras
5. Khan and Singh seated
6. Mid shot Singh; pan to Khan
7. Sign outside: "Ministry of External Affairs"
8. SOUNDBITE: (Hindi/English) Aziz Ahmed Khan, Pakistani High Commissioner-
"External Affairs minister has asked me to convey to Pakistani authorities if any humanitarian consideration can be extended to the case (of Sarabjit Singh). (English) So, I''m going to convey that. And as far as we are concerned, he''s had a fair trial, he has been through the due process of law. It was tried by the lower courts, then it was tried by the high court and after the high court judgement, an appeal was made by his lawyers to the Supreme Court which upheld the High court''s decision, so he has been through the legal process but considering that this request has been made, I will convey the request."
9. Pakistani flag on official car
10. Various of Khan leaving
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Navtej Sarna, Foreign ministry spokesperson:
"Sri Natwar Singh discussed this matter once again with the High Commissioner of Pakistan. He reiterated the fact that this is a humanitarian matter and also that there is a strong public sentiment in India for sparing the life of the individual. And once again, of course, the matter of consular access being provided was taken up and we hope that things will move in a positive direction."

August 23, 2005
12. Various of sister of Sarabjit Singh, Dalbir Kaur, emerging from foreign ministry building
13. SOUNDBITE: (Hindi) Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit Singh:
"He (the minister) said he would help as far as possible and that he was with us. He said he could understand what his family would be going through. He said he had full sympathy with the family."
14. Car carrying Dalbir Kaur moving away

STORYLINE :

Pressure is mounting on the Indian government to save an Indian man sentenced to death in Pakistan for spying, with his family members threatening to commit suicide and several lawmakers urging the prime minister to intervene.

The death sentence against Sarabjit Singh, who has been held in a Pakistani jail for the past 15 years, was upheld last week by Pakistan''s Supreme Court.

Singh was convicted of spying and involvement in a string of bomb blasts in Pakistani cities.

But his family denies he was a spy, and insists he had strayed accidentally into Pakistani territory in August 1990 while farming his land, which lies near the border.

On Thursday, Indian external affairs minister Natwar Singh met the Pakistani High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmed Khan and conveyed his government''s request for humanitarian consideration in the case.

Afterwards, Khan claimed that Sarabjeet Singh had received a fair trial.

Pakistani High Commissioner said Singh had been through the due process of law in Pakistan.

Indian diplomats have asked for permission to see Singh.

Singh''s wife and two daughters have threatened to commit suicide unless his life is spared.

Singh''s sister Dalbir Kaur met the Indian foreign minister on Tuesday and appealed for help in pleading for mercy for her brother.

No date has been set for Singh''s hanging .

For years, longtime rivals India and Pakistan regularly accused people who strayed across the border of espionage.


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