Sarabjit Singh’s Story – The Man Who Died A Painful Death Everyday For 23 Years In Pakistan

It has been more than two years since Sarabjit Singh languished in Lahore’s jail for 22 years before passing away on May 2, 2013.

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Sarbjit Singh’s name would have remained unknown to all of us, if on one unfortunate night, he didn’t stray on an unmarked India-Pak border, which eventually cost him his life. He was arrested at the Kasur border on the night of August 30, 1990. From here began his heart-breaking journey of ordeal, until he was stabbed repeatedly in the jail, leading to his death on the spot.

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Here’s a timeline of the entire case:
August 1990: Sarabjit Singh was detained after straying on the India-Pakistan Border.
September, 1990: Sarabjit Singh found guilty and sentenced to death in Lahore.
May 1991: First letter arrives from Sarbjit to Dalbir stating he is in Pakistani prison and gives other required details of the case.

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August 1991: Date of execution is announced
December 2001: High Court rejects Sarabjit’s appeal in Lahore.

Summer of 2003: Sarbjit sends an image of himself in chains, which leads to the intervention of human rights activists who help him from removing of shackles for the first time in 12 years.

July 2005: Dalbir Joins BJP. She and Navjot Siddhu garner support from the audience as elections approach.
August 2005: Pakistan Supreme Court quashes Sarabjit’s appeal. Reason cited – Appeal filed late.
March 2006: Dalbir and her family threaten to commit suicide after the rejection of latest petition.
March 2008: Dalbir meets Rahul Gandhi.

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April 2008: Pervez Musharraf rejects Sarabjit’s mercy petition, but stayed for 30 days.

April 2008: The entire family visit Pakistan to meet Sarabjit and stay there for 6 days.

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July 2009: Sarabjit gets a new lawyer, Awais Sheikh.
Summer 2009: 3rd review petition turned down
July 2009: New petition filed by Awais Shaikh before president.
February 2010: 2nd petition filed by Awais Shaikh before president.

March 2011: Awais Shaikh files a new application in the Supreme Court for reopening the case on March 2016. The information is forwarded to President Zardari, but again, investigations are used as a cover up to delay the case.

Awais Shaikh

April 2011: Third petition filed by Awais Shaikh.
June 2011: Dalbir meet Sarabjit for the second time.
June 2012:  President Asif Zardari signed a document commuting Sarbjit’s death sentence to life in prison. A life sentence in Pakistan generally lasts 14 years. Singh, having spent 22 years in jail, was therefore to be released.

Sarbjit’s wife and daughter celebrate his release news

December 2012: Pakistan’s minister Rehman Malik assures Dalbir that Sarabjit will be released soon.

April 2013: Sarabjit attacked with bricks and plates by two inmates of Lahore Jail on April 26. It’s the same date when he met his family five years ago.

April 2013: Declared brain dead. Ventilator pulled off and Sarbjit dies on Pakistani soil.

Sarbjit’s family break down as they receive his belongings from Pakistan

Sarbjit and his family’s journey has been painful. It still is, their wait for 23 years ended on a note none of us would have wished for it to end. What’s saddening is that there are so many other Sarabjit’s out there who are going through the same ordeal yet, waiting to see the light of the day. How many more Sarbjit’s will have to die a similar death? When will the world realize their insecurities must remain within their borders and not walk over humanity. Sigh.