Pakistan Panel Decides Against Sending Sarabjit Singh Abroad for Treatment

The panel of doctors formed to evaluate Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh's health condition concluded that his treatment will continue in Pakistan owing to his fragile state.

After conducting a CT scan on Sarabjit doctors found it risky if he moved to a facility abroad for treatment. The panel's report will soon be submitted to the Pakistan government.

The panel of four doctors headed by Mehmoud Shaukat had been was constituted to decide Sarabjit's next course of treatment owing to his rapidly deteriorating health. The panel was contemplating whether he should be flown abroad or to bring foreign neurosurgeons into the country to examine him.

On Sunday, the family members had pleaded for Sarabjit to be taken to India for better medical treatment. Doctors at the MA Jinnah Hospital, where he is being treated at, cited lower chances of survival given his state of 'deep coma'.

"With the level of his deep unconsciousness, Sarabjit's treatment has turned out to be a major challenge to the medical board," said a doctor from the board.

Sarabjit has not regained consciousness ever since the brutal attack in the premises of Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail on Friday. He received fatal injuries to his head and neck and has a backbone fracture.

The family was only allowed a glimpse of the prisoner from the ICU window on Sunday.

"When we met him in the ICU, he was just lying there. Doctors told us that his condition was critical. Please help us to save my brother's life," pleaded Sarabjit's elder sister Dalbir Kur.

"I plead to our government with folded hands. Please take him to any country for his treatment. Don't waste time, save him. So far, when I tried to fight for his freedom, I only got hollow assurances."

Dalbit also alleged conspiracy behind the attack saying iron rods were used to beat Sarabjit. "I want to know how the iron rods, bricks, cutters and other things reached inside the prison to carry out the attack on Sarabjit. It was a big conspiracy."

Meanwhile, Pakistan has provided second consular access for Indian diplomats to meet Sarabjit. The government had refused to grant further meetings with the prisoner saying the hospital is now a sub jail.

Sarabjit's family had earlier alleged that he was at risk within the jail premises and had requested the government to take precautionary measures.

In a letter to his family, Sarabjit had reportedly revealed that he feared for his life after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.