Diya paid but no freedom yet for 17 on death row

The Dh3.4million in ‘diya’ (blood money) was this morning received by the representative of the family of a Pakistani national, who was allegedly murdered by 17 Indians.

Mohammed Ramzan, holder of the power of attorney of the family of the dead man - Misri Nazir Khan – signed papers in a Sharjah court stating the money was received and issuing the pardon for the accused.

However, the Indians will have to wait till September 12 for their freedom. That is the date the Sharjah court has set for the next hearing in the case.

In a further twist to the case, three more men who claim to have been attacked in the original incident have told the lawyer representing the Indians that they will file a civil case seeking compensation for injury.

Mustaq Ahmed, Shahd Iqbal said Mohammad Nawaz said they too were attacked and injured and therefore, should be compensated.
 
The court was agog with excitement this morning as the papers were signed. Representatives of the Indian consulate, no less, were on hand to ensure smooth proceedings as the case has drawn much media coverage in India.

Speaking to this website after the hearing, UAE-based businessman Gurcharan Singh, one of the key mediators along another UAE-based entrepreneur SP Singh, said that the former chief minister of the Indian state of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh played a key part in the making sure the money was paid.

The 17 Indian men were arrested following the death of Khan in the Saaja industrial area of Sharjah in January 2009, following a dispute between two rival gangs involved in bootlegging.

The legal team representing the Indians had appealed to a higher court, after the lower court convicted all of them to death for the murder.

The legal team represented by Mohammad Salman Advocates and Legal Consultants had been all along insisting against the payment of blood money, claiming that it would amount to admission of guilt.

Bindu Chettar, senior lawyer with the firm had earlier said that the police had no concrete evidence to prove that the men were guilty.

Dh3.4m to be paid today
for death-row Indians

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