Indian Govt. hired top lawyer in Dubai to file an appeal

The Centre has hired a top lawyer in Dubai to file an appeal against the death sentence to 17 Indians, minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur said on Monday. She assured a delegation of families of the convicts here that the government would do its best to ensure justice in the matter.

Preneet Kaur said the Indian consulate in Dubai had been sounded on the matter. The families interested in visiting their wards in Dubai would be granted visa relaxation, she said.

Sukhwinder Kaur, whose son Taranjeet (23) is among the 17 convicts, said the minister had assured them that special secretary, foreign affairs, would be sent to UAE to meet the convicts. “The government is making all efforts to help us,” she said.

Her son left for Dubai around one-and-a-half years back. “We only knew that Taranjeet was arrested on suspicion. Now he is facing death,” she said. Parminder Kaur, whose husband, Kashmir Singh, figures in the list of the 17 convicts, said they were shattered with the harsh sentence.

“We are exploring all options to save them and that’s why we met the minister. I am satisfied with the outcome of the meeting,” she said. Meanwhile, prayer meetings were held in Ludhiana and Jalandhar for the convicts’ well-being.