Amritsar, April 16 : The Pakistan High Commission granted visa to family members of Sarabjit Singh on Wednesday, who is on death row in Pakistan. Happy with the opportunity, the family members said they would cross over to the neighbouring country through Attari border within three days. Sarabjit is lodged in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail for the last 18 years.

“I have not seen my brother for 18 years. One of his daughters was born around the time he had strayed into Pakistan territory mistakenly in 1990. We are anxiously waiting to meet him as visas have been granted to all the family members,” said Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur, talking to The Indian Express from Delhi. She was heading for Ajmer Sharif to thank almighty for the “blessings”.

Dalbir said they had also been given the permission to cross over through Attari land route and would be leaving for Pakistan in the coming two-three days.

The family members fighting for Sarabjit’s release from Pakistani gallows had applied for the visas on April 10 but the applications were pending. “We are thankful to Pakistan and Indian governments for issuing of visa,” she said.

On Tuesday, the Pakistan High Commission had forwarded the visa applications of Sarabjit’s family members to Islamabad and there were reports that the visa was first rejected but the family did not lose hope. “We want to see in what condition he is living. We want to talk to him for his absence all these years,” she said.

The happier still were Sarabjit’s teenage daughters, Swapandeep and Poonam, who said they will see their Papa for the first time in their life. “We are preparing to leave for Pakistan at the earliest. It will be a great moment to be with Papa”, said Swapan as tears rolled down hear cheeks.

Sarabjit, sentenced to be hanged by a Pakistan court in the 1990 serial blasts in Lahore and Multan in which 14 people were killed, had his sentence upheld by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. His last date of hanging on April 1 was postponed to April 30.