ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 20 (UPI) -- An Indian, who was to be executed April 1 in Pakistan on spying charges, has won a month-long reprieve from President Pervez Musharraf.
Sarabjit Singh, being held in a jail in Lahore, was to be hanged April 1 for his alleged involvement in bombing incidents in 1991 in Pakistan. He has said he is innocent.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry informed India about Musharraf's decision, and Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who had earlier urged Pakistan to be lenient toward Singh, told Parliament his government would continue its efforts to Singh's life, The Hindu newspaper reported.
"We have achieved partial success and we will continue to carry on our efforts," the minister said.
Sarabjit Singh's case comes on the heels of Kashmir Singh, who was released this month after being held on Pakistan's death row on spying charges for 35 years. The two are not related.
The Hindu report said Sarabjit Singh's family has claimed he had only strayed across the border but his case had become one of mistaken identity.
Musharraf had earlier rejected a mercy petition on Singh's behalf and since then, the family has been trying to get the death sentence commuted, the report said. The final outcome of the case is not yet known.
