'Kashmir's statement will affect Indian inmates'

After Kashmir Singh's reported revelation that he went to Pakistan on espionage duty of the Indian military, relatives of Sarabjit, another Indian citizen languishing in Pakistani jail, on Thursday said it will badly affect the release of his other compatriots.

"Kashmir Singh's statement about his involvement in espionage activities has caused a very bad effect and may close the road for any further release" of Indian prisoners, Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur told PTI after a meeting with Opposition leader LK Advani.

"We have requested Advani ji for his help in this matter. He has assured us that he would take up the issue with the Prime Minister as well as the Pakistani administration," she added.

Recently, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had turned down the mercy petition of Sarabjit Singh who was condemned to death in Pakistan for alleged involvement in the Lahore bomb blasts in 1990.

Sarabjit was arrested on charges of spying in 1990. He was sentenced to death by the Lahore High Court in 2003 for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed about 14 people.

Kaur, who met the senior leader along with her husband, said that Sarabjit was still hopeful for his release and had written to his daughters to pray for his release.

"I will get free, same as every prisoner gets free after a certain time. You people pray for my release," Kaur quoted Sarbajit as writing in his recent letter.

Pakistan's Supreme Court rejected Sarabjit's mercy petition in March 2006 and upheld his death sentence.