MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 28: Kashmiri Mujahideen groups on Sunday called upon Islamabad to seek from New Delhi clemency for an innocent Kashmiri before accepting the mercy petition for an Indian terror convict.

The appeal was made from the platform of United Jihad Council, an alliance of Kashmiri fighter groups engaged in armed struggle since 1988 to overthrow Indian occupation of Kashmir. It is headed by Syed Salahuddin.

“The government of Pakistan must seek forgiveness for Mohammad Afzal Guru from India before positively responding to frequent appeals by the Indian leaders and public for mercy to Sarabjit Singh,” said the UJC at a meeting chaired by Mr Salahuddin.

Mr Guru, 35, a resident of Jagir Ghat, a small village near the town of Sopore in northern Kashmir, was sentenced to death for his alleged role in Dec 13, 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament which nearly brought India and Pakistan to war.

The capital punishment was upheld by the Indian Supreme Court on Aug 4. Besides Guru the trial court had sentenced Mr Guru’s cousin, Shoukat Guru to 10 years’ imprisonment and acquitted Mr Shoukat’s wife Afshan and Prof Syed Abdur Rehman Geelani.