LAHORE: Taking a big step on India’s request the Pakistan government has postponed the execution of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh "till further order".

"Yes, it has been postponed till further orders by the government of Pakistan and the President of Pakistan", said Rana Abdul Hameed, Sarabjit's lawyer.

He also said that there were chances that his death could be commuted to life imprisonment and since he has already served life sentence, he might be released.

Malik Mubashir Ahmad Khan, superintendent of Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail, read out an Interior Ministry order: "The execution of Indian national, Sarabjit Singh is stayed till further order."

Singh, whose family says he is the victim of mistaken identity, was to be hanged on April 1 after being convicted of involvement in 1990 blasts.

However, President Pervez Musharraf, who had earlier rejected his mercy petition, delayed execution until April 30.

Earlier, Pakistan Supreme Court had rejected an appeal against Singh's death penalty. Dalbir Kaur, who along with her family members was in Pakistan from April 23 to April 29, said she was hopeful now that Pakistan government would set her brother free.

Arrested and tried on charges of triggering bomb blasts in Lahore in 1990, Sarabjit has been languishing in Pakistani prisons for the last 18 years.