Lahore, Mar 20 (ANI): The family of Bilal Mustafa, one of the victims of the May, 18, 1990 bomb blast at the Malik Theatre Cinema at Bhaati Gate, believes Sarabjit Singh, the Indian detenu, should be released.
"Sarabjit has spent some years in jail. I think he should be released, but only if India agrees to release at least the same number of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails as the number of 1990 blast victims. It will help many families in our country," said Abdul Rehman Nasir, Bilal's elder brother.
Sarabjit was sentenced to death in 1991 for spying and carrying out four bomb blasts that killed 14 people.
"If Singh were hanged, his (Singh's) family would have to go through the same trauma his family had gone through 18 years ago," The Daily Times quoted Nasir as saying.
Recalling those days, Nasir said the family was shocked when they came to know about Bilal lying in a pool of blood.
Nasir, who runs a rent-a-car business at Bhaati Gate, said Bilal was just 15 when he was killed.
"Bilal was on his way to buy some groceries when the bomb exploded, killing him along with 13 other people," he said.
Nasir, who lives with his mother and wife, said, "My brother cannot come back, so what is the use of hanging Sarabjit."
On Wednesday, the sentence of SaUabjit was delayed till April 30.
Sarabjit, the Indian convicted of spying in Pakistan was to be hanged on April 1 following President Musharraf's rejection of his mercy plea, a senior prison officer in Lahore said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sriprakash Jaiswal said on Thursday that the Singh execution case could be taken to the United Nations.
Jaiswal indicated that the Indian government is seeking international intervention in the matter.
"We are not ready for Sarabjit to be repatriated from Pakistan if it means India has to release hardcore terrorists in exchange," Jaiswal said.
Endorsing the ministerial view, Sarbjit's wife Sukhpreet Kaur said: "My daughters and I would never like the freedom of Sarabjit if any hardcore Pakistani terrorists lodged in Indian jails have to be released in exchange. For us, nothing is above the nation and we can't go against the interests of our motherland."
Earlier, the Pakistan Foreign Office had informed the Indian High Commission in Islamabad that President Pervez Musharraf has stayed the execution of Sarabjit Singh till April 30.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had assured the Lok Sabha that efforts are on to secure his freedom. (ANI)
