Sarabjit Singh to be hanged on April 1

The mercy petition of Sarabjit, who Pakistan claims is Manjit Singh, was rejected by President Pervez Musharraf on March 3.

Sarabjit8217;s mercy petition was sent to Musharraf along with that of Indian prisoner Kashmir Singh, who was freed after spending 35 years on death row in Pakistani jails.

There was no official confirmation of the development.

Sarabjit was sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed about 14 people. His family denies he was a spy as claimed by Pakistan and insists he accidentally strayed into Pakistani territory.

In his mercy petition sent to Musharraf, Sarabjit had sought his release on the grounds that he was innocent and wrongly implicated.

The petition was rejected by the President after 8220;thorough consideration8221; as the allegations against him 8220;were proved and he was awarded capital punishment by court8221;, official sources said.

Pakistan8217;s Supreme Court too had rejected Sarabjit8217;s plea for clemency in March 2006.

Following the rejection of Sarabjit8217;s mercy petition by the President, the interior ministry had informed the government of Punjab province to take steps to carry out his death sentence.