Sarabjit might just escape the gallows

"A summary prepared by the interior ministry is at an advanced stage and a final decision is expected within a few days," a source was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.

The source said a "major beneficiary" of the move would be Sarabjit Singh, who was convicted of allegedly carrying out four bomb attacks in Punjab province that left 14 people dead.

Sarabjit's execution had been set for April 1 after the rejection of his mercy petitions by the Supreme Court and President Pervez Musharraf. But later, Musharraf delayed his execution for a month after receiving a fresh appeal from India so that Pakistan's new government could review his case.

Sarabjit's wife Sukhpreet Kaur, daughters Swapandeep and Poonam, his sister Dalbir Kaur and her husband Baldev Singh have been lobbying government officials and politicians to secure his release. They have insisted he is an innocent farmer who strayed across the border in inebriated condition in 1990.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq too had said on Thursday that the government was considering the Indian government's appeal for clemency for Sarabjit and a decision would be taken in "due course".

Sources said certain parameters would be fixed to determine the eligibility of cases for commutation of death sentences.