New Delhi , (GNS) : India today called on Islamabad to take a lenient view and release death row convict Sarabjit Singh whose release was mistakenly announced and corrected almost five hours later by the Pakistan Government.

“We have always taken up the unfortunate case of Sarabjit Singh who has spent 20 years in prison. This is a good time for the Government of Pakistan to take a lenient, a humanitarian view. I can very well understand the agony his family must have gone through. I also appeal to the government of Pakistan to release all Indian nationals who have completed their prison terms,’’ said External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna during a breakfast interaction with mediamen.

While diplomats were stoic after reports filtered in from Pakistan on June 25, 2012  evening about Islamabad’s plans to release Sarabjit Singh, Mr. Krishna immediately welcomed the decision with his office not bothering to get a confirmation from the Indian mission in Islamabad.