Sarabjit Singh and Sanaullah are two names, which in recent few months have so much influenced the Indo-Pak relations that almost war-like bitterness has overtaken the people in both the countries. Sarabjit was awaiting his hanging in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Pakistan and the Pak national Rana Sanaullah Haq was in a Jammu jail as a life convict. In themselves they mattered very little but when the atmosphere becomes vicious, one individual is subjected to inhuman treatment as if his whole country was being humiliated.
Sarabjit, a young farmer of a Punjab village, some thirty years ago, once while working in his field, close to the Pak border, under intoxication wandered into Pak territory where he was arrested. It was the time when Lahore blast had taken place and Pak investigators found the name of one Manjeet Singh. In their over enthusiasm, they claimed to have caught the real culprit. Under duress, before a magistrate, he was compelled to give a self-damaging statement that actually he was Manjit Singh and that he was involved in the Lahore blasts. Ultimately, the court awarded him death sentence.
When the information reached India, Sarabjit’s family members,comprising his wife, two daughters and brave sister, named Dalbir Kaur, engaged a local advocate and moved the court to prove that it was a case of mistaken identity. By that time Asif Ali Zardari had become the President of Pakistan. The Govt of India pursued the case through diplomatic channels and succeeded only in delaying the almost looming hanging. The efforts at different levels were afoot and optimism rose high about his safe relief. Once the tv news indicated that he will be back to India within a couple of days. The family members, under this elusive hope distributed sweets. Immediately then there was a blunt denial from Pakistan.
In this background, Afzal Guru, for his involvement in the terrorist attack on Parliament was in jail and counting days for the noose round his neck, which ultimately came in 2013. It was a strong slap on the terrorists in both the countries and they were itching for retaliation. This token retaliation came when two other co-Pak convicts mercilessly and fatally beat Sarabjeet. The jail authorities were fully responsible as there was a warning about dangers to Sarabjeet’s life. The Govt of India demanded his return to India or shifting to a neutral country for better treatment which was flatly rejected. They did not carry out a post-mortem examination. Ultimately, only the deadbody of the man was brought to India. The post-mortem here revealed several reasons for his death including brain damage, heart failure and breaking of some rib bones. Sarabjeet was cremated in his paternal village with full military honour. He was declared a martyr. However, the Indian psyche is still badly perturbed over the brutality of a state where the rule of law and Human Rights hardly carry any meaning.
On the other hand, Rana Sanaullah, a Pakistani citizen of Lahore, who was under life imprisonment in a Jammu jail, for eight terrirorist crimes in Srinagar, almost got a similar treatment from an enraged co-prisoner. This armyman fro Uttarakhand is in jail for killing a collegue. For this crime, he is being court-martialled. The brutal killing of Sarbjeet had stirred up his conscience and as a token of revenge, when there was a small wordy duel, he hit Sanaullah with a gardening implement and the victim fell unconscious. He was immediately taken to a local hospital wherefrom he was referred to PGI Chandigarh for a better treatment. His condition continues to remain critical. However, the Govt of India is taking all steps which a responsible govt should do. His family members have been allowed to see him. The Pak High Cmmission diplomats visited the hospital. For this laxity, the jail Superintendent and a few others were suspended. Enquiry is going on.
These are the two sides of a coin, which looks like a counterfeit. By killing a prisoner, can we punish his motherland? It is like pelting stones on a public bus because a policeman rightly or wrongly slapped somebody. This amply indicates that despite several rounds of CBMs, there is a lack of faith in the people of both countries. Pakistani payers were not allowed to play in the ongoing IPL matches since they beheaded an Indian soldier. These unfortunate developments are definitely bringing both countries close to a hot war which both sides realize will be mutually destructive. Let reason and diplomacy prevail over these pin-pricks.
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