With Sarabjit Singh's execution date nearing, India on Friday made a fresh appeal to Pakistan to show mercy to the "unfortunate human being" on humanitarian grounds.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee hoped clemency would be shown to Sarabjit who has been in a Pakistani jail since 1990.

"I would appeal to the authorities in Pakistan to show clemency" to Sarabjit, Mukherjee said in a statement to the media as the date of hanging of the Indian national drew nearer.

"Whatever the legal position may be, on humanitarian grounds alone, I would hope that mercy could be shown to this unfortunate human being," he said.

Sarabjit has been sentenced to death in connection with the 1990 bomb blasts in Lahore [Images] and was to be hanged on April 1.

The hanging was, however, put off by a month after India made an appeal to Pakistan government.

The fresh appeal came as Indian authorities in Pakistan established contact with Pakistan's new government and were hopeful that clemency will be given to him.

Sarabjit's family has been insisting that Sarabjit's case was that of mistaken identity and hence should be granted clemency.