JOIN USDeath row kin seek govt help
The family members of six of the accused hailing from Punjab who assembled at Jaitu in Fairdkot district alleged that all the accused had been “framed” on the basis of "concocted" and "unsubstantiated" evidence.
Twenty one year old Arvinder singh who had gone to Sharjah on work permit with his brother Sukhjinder Singh said he was among the 70 people picked up soon after the incident in January last year.
“I was lucky to be released after three months, but my brother, Sukhjinder, is among those handed the death sentence. I have to get him released,” he said. All others except 17 on death row were released by a Sharjah shariat court that pronounced the verdict earlier this week.
Arvinder said he had no clue about the fight following which the Pakistani was killed. Some of the Indians were picked up from their houses or from airport when they were heading back to India after exhausting their work contracts.
He said the people arrested for murder had no clue what was happening and nobody explained anything to them. “We were never taken to court and were informed about the court proceedings in jail itself,” he added.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has, meanwhile, issued a separate appeal to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention in the case. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Badal urged him to use his good offices with the UAE government to ensure justice for the young boys.
He pointed out that 17 persons had been convicted for a single murder and therefore it was important to see that there was no “miscarriage of justice.” Balwant singh Ramoowalia, president of the Lok Bhalai Party who is fighting for the cause of the families of the accused on death row said he would meet the Prime Minister and the External Affairs minister for intervention and to seek legal aid to the accused.