Sarabjit's kin to cross over to Pak on April 23

Family members of Sarabjit Singh, on a death row in Pakistan, will cross over to the neighbouring country on April 23 to meet him at Lahore's Kotlakhpatrai prison, his sister Dalbir Kaur on Friday said.

She told PTI that she along with other family members will visit Pakistan on April 23.

She said her husband Baldev Singh, Sarabjit's two daughters Swapandeep and Poonam and wife Sukhpreet Kaur would accompany her.

Sarabjit was sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in 1990 serial blasts in Lahore and Multan in which 14 Pakistani citizens died. He was to be hanged on April one but it was postponed till April 30.

Sarabjit, who Pakistan claims is Manjit Singh, was sentenced to death in 1991. His family denies he is a spy as alleged by Pakistan and insists he accidentally strayed into the Pakistani territory.

His mercy petition was rejected by President Pervez Musharraf on March 3. Pakistan's Supreme Court too rejected Sarabjit's plea for clemency earlier in March 2006.

Dalbir said Indian High Commission official SK Reddy had informed her that he would meet Sarabjit tomorrow.

She thanked people and the Indian government for "trying their best for Sarabjit's clemency".

Kaur said Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, has also urged Musharraf to extend the clemency.