London: The Portugal court today granted extension of 22 days to the Government of India to submit extradition papers in a case against UK asylum seeker Paramjeet Singh Pamma.
An update by Sikh Council UK reads: “Paramjeet Singh Portugal case- Indian Govt request for 22 days extension (till 26 Jan) to submit extradition papers has been granted”.
Meanwhile the Sikh Federation UK has announced to continue with its campaign to encourage people to contact their respective MPs against suspected extradition of Paramjeet Singh Pamma to India by Portugal authorities.
Paramjeet Singh Pamma was arrested in Portugal on December 18.
Earlier reports suggested that Indian authorities had been requesting the Portuguese authorities to grant extradition of Sikh activist Paramjit Singh Pamma in three cases: Rulda Singh murder case (2009), Ambala blast case (2009) and Arya Samaj (Patiala) blast case (2009).
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However, US based Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is camping in Portugal to arrange legal support for Pamma said that they would point it out in the Portuguese court that all the accused in Rulda Singh murder case had already been acquitted. “As per Portuguese law, a foreign government has 40 days from the time of arrest to produce evidence corroborating the extradition charges,” he said.
His lawyers are also preparing to argue against the extradition on the ground that Portugal law does not allow extradition to a country which practices torture, life imprisonment or death sentence and earlier investigation by UK authorities found no credible evidence to charge him.
Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said, “Given the decision of the court in Portugal yesterday to extend the period of detention by another 22 days we have called on the working group to launch an “urgent action” procedure in this case.”
He also added, “Despite over 200 UK MPs having been contacted by constituents in the last two weeks we believe the British authorities have thus far not done enough for Paramjeet Singh and his family by ensuring he is returned to the UK. They have been far too slow in sharing relevant information with the Portuguese authorities, such as why they have given protection to Paramjeet Singh and what would happen to him if he was extradited.”