A Briton who has been waiting on death row in Pakistan for the past 18 years has won a reprieve.

Leeds-born Mirza Hussain has had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment and is expected to be released on parole given the time he has already served.

The decision from President Pervez Musharraf comes after Prince Charles discussed Mr Hussain’s case on a recent Royal visit to Pakistan.

Clarence House confirmed he is “very pleased” with the President’s decision.

Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials Abroad, said her organisation was “delighted” with the development announced by Pakistan officials.

She said: “We are delighted to hear that his death sentence has been reportedly commuted to life. He’s already served the equivalent of at least one or two life sentences and I very much hope this could see him returned home very soon.”

She added: “He was the victim of a grave miscarriage of justice which has been recognised by the Pakistan government.”

Mr Hussain was convicted of murder when he told police a taxi driver tried to sexually assault him at gunpoint and that the gun went off in an ensuing struggle, killing the driver.

He was convicted of murder but that was quashed by the High Court in Pakistan. But he was then retried under religious laws in an Islamic court and sentenced to death.

This is the first time the president has commuted a death penalty decision made at the Sharia court.

Source: ITN

Tags: death row