"Pakistan has given me a Diwali gift", this is how Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit Singh currently lodged in a Pakistani prison, reacted to reports that her brother has been shifted from death row cell to a normal cell in a jail in Lahore.
"The Pakistan government has given me a gift on the occasion of Diwali by shifting my brother from the death cell. Now he can heave a sigh of relief," Kaur told PTI.
Pakistani television channels on Tuesday reported that Sarabjit has been shifted from the death cell to a normal cell.
"Now with this, a fresh ray of hope appeared for the safe repatriation of Sarbjit Singh from Pakistan to India," she added.
Kaur hoped that her brother will celebrate all traditional festivals with his family from next year as the "Pakistan government would definitely repatriate him safely."
"I am thankful to the entire leadership of the Pakistan government including the prime minister, president, opposition, masses and media of India and Pakistan," Kaur said.
Kaur expressed hope that both Indian and Pakistan would definitely come out with a positive remedy for the repatriation of Sarbjit Singh.
She claimed that that her brother Sarabjit had crossed over to Pakistan inadvertently in 1990.
Sarabjit, whom Pakistani authorities call Manjit Singh, has been on death row since he was convicted for alleged involvement in four bomb attacks in Punjab province in 1990.