Islamabad: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has accepted a mercy plea from an Indian national who spent 35 years on death row on spying charges, and ordered his release, a minister said on Friday.

Kashmir Singh was arrested in the city of Rawalpindi with another Indian in 1973 while trying to smuggle goods from Pakistan to India.

The other man was sentenced to 10 years in jail and has been sent back to India, but a military court sentenced Singh to death.

"Kashmir Singh has gone through hell during the last 35 years. He has suffered more than enough for his alleged crime," Minister for Human Rights Ansar Burney said. "I personally requested the president to accept his mercy petition in the greater interest of human rights and allow him to return home and spend the rest of his life with his family."

Burney said Singh would be released on Monday and handed over to Indian authorities.

"I am happy that the prime minister has ordered his release and now the case is with the interior minister who would issue the notification of his release tomorrow [Saturday]," said the minister.

Tomorrow being a holiday, Singh could be released Monday. "I wish to take him to [Wagah] border the same day but it may not be possible without the travel documents," he said. An official of the Indian high commission said: "We are examining the case."

Burney said Singh was in good health and was about 71 years old. According to jail records, when he was arrested, he gave his age as 37. Singh had filed a mercy petition in the mid-80s with the presidency that was never taken up.

"I am in touch with the authorities at the Indian high commission for issuance of his travel documents," said Burney, who had a chance meeting with Singh last month during his visit to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.

"I immediately traced his mercy appeal and convinced the president to grant him mercy which he did on Thursday," said Burney who is overjoyed over Singh's release.

Miracle

"Believe me, it's a miracle... I am glad that he would be among his family after a long time," said the minister who is known for his activism on concessions for prisoners.

Singh had a love marriage with Paranjeet Kaur who still waits for her husband in Nangal Choran village of Punjab. He has a daughter and two sons. His three brothers live in India.

"He hasn't received any information for long from his relatives," a jail official said. The official said that Singh was very happy about his impending release and was counting every minute to meet his relatives. According to the official, he has spent over 34 years in jail but cannot wait any more.

"It's difficult for me to spend a minute... I want to meet my wife, my children and my brothers, I wish my sister was alive," the official quoted Singh as saying.

Burney said: "He will be taken to the border and handed over to his relatives the day his documents are completed by the Indian high commission."