Pak lawyers' delegation arrives in India to study democratic institutions

Wagah, Mar 22 (ANI): A delegation of around 205 lawyers of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP), led by noted human rights activist Asma Jahangir, arrived at the Wagah border post here on Thursday.

Jahangir, the former President of SCBAP, said that they would be participating in a seminar organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association of India at Jaipur.

She mentioned that people in Pakistan are displeased to learn about incidents of violence related to faith and religion in a democratic country like India.

"Though Pakistan has more religious intolerance, it is in India as well. We feel sad to hear about incidents such as in Orissa, Indian Christians were killed, or acts of human rights violations in Kashmir based on religion, or the Gujarat pogrom. We are sad to know about such incidents," said Jehangir.

When asked to comment on Indian national Sarabjit Singh, who is awaiting the gallows since 1991 in Pakistan on charges of spying, bombing and killing 14 persons, she said activists of human rights and civil liberties in her country are crusading against capital punishment.

"We have more than eight thousand prisoners, who have been sentenced to death. We feel that Sarabjit Singh is one of those prisoners. Therefore, our campaign is against death sentence, but it is not for an individual, it is for all the prisoners," she said.

The delegation is likely to take up the need to strengthen bilateral human rights mechanisms, aiming to resolve conflicts and disputes through dialogue during their visit. (ANI)