Dubai: Seventeen Indians on death row for
the murder of a Pakistani national in Sharjah have been
granted over a month's time by a UAE appeals court to reach a
blood money settlement with the victim's family.
Following stalled negotiations over blood money, the
Sharjah Court of Appeal adjourned the case again and the next
hearing is scheduled to be held on July 20.
While ordering the 34-day adjournment on Friday, the
judge asked the two parties to reach a compromise.
On March 28, 2010, the Sharjah Court of First Instance
had handed down death sentence to the 17 Indian nationals, who
were accused of killing a Pakistani in January 2009 in a
bootlegging rivalry.
"I am making arrangements to send someone to Pakistan to
meet the victim's family. Once the family agrees to pardon or
accept blood money, the matter can be settled," SP Singh
Oberoi, local businessman and founder President of Indian
Punjabi Society who has been pursuing the case on behalf of
the Indians, said.
"I had offered a sum of Pakistani Rs 1 crore to settle
the matter during the last hearing. I am standing by that
offer and hope the matter will be settled as soon as
possible," Oberoi said.
Bindu Suresh Chettur, a lawyer representing the Indians
in the case, said some individuals have been trying to spread
false rumour with regard to blood money.
Yesterday's hearing was the 14th in the case.
PTI
First Published: Friday, June 17, 2011, 17:31