MEP Edward McMillan Scott met privately with President Musharraf

Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, has been in jail in Pakistan for 18 years and is due to be hanged on 1 October for killing a taxi driver.

Yorkshire and Humber MEP Edward McMillan-Scott had a private meeting with President Pervez Musharraf.

He said the president had told him he did not want Mr Hussain to hang.

But Mr McMillan-Scott added that Gen Musharraf had refused to exercise clemency during the meeting on Tuesday.

The MEP also handed a letter to the president, outlining his concerns about the issues surrounding the case.

'Please, Mr Blair'

Mr McMillan-Scott said: "This is a complex and sensitive case.

"President Musharraf made it very clear to me that he did not want my constituent to hang, that he had closely examined the case, and that he had asked his staff to find a way out."

Earlier this month Mr Hussain, who claims he killed the taxi driver in self defence, pleaded for help from Gen Musharaf and from Tony Blair.

He told the BBC's Asian Network: "Please Mr Blair, take me home - I have suffered enough. My life is to be terminated.