Sarabjit fine in Pak jail, says Surjeet Singh

Surjeet Singh, who was released from a Pakistani jail after 31 years, today said Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh is fine and hoped that he is freed soon.

69-year-old Surjeet Singh, who was released from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail this morning, said he used to meet Sarabjit, 49, on a weekly basis in the same prison.

"He is not facing any problems there. He is fine. I used to him on a weekly basis in the prison," Surjeet told reporters.

"I hope he is released soon," he said.

Surjeet's release from prison came after reports emerged on Tuesday that Pakistan was to free Sarabjit Singh. But later, Pakistan clarified that authorities had actually ordered the release of Surjeet and not Sarabjit.

Surjeet served a life term following his arrest on charges of spying in the 1980s in Pakistan. He was given the death sentence under the Pakistan Army Act in 1985. The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1989 by then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan.

Sarabjit was convicted and sentenced to death for alleged involvement in a string of bomb attacks that killed 14 people in Punjab in 1990.