UAE: 'BLOOD MONEY' LIKELY TO SAVE PUNJABI YOUTHS FROM DEATH PENALTY

November 3, 2014: Eleven Punjabi youths, lodged in Abu Dhabi jail for allegedly murdering a Pakistani, could evade capital punishment as their families had agreed to pay "blood money" to the victim's kin.
The accused, including three Pakistani youths, facing trial in Abu Dhabi, were arrested on charges of killing their Pakistani co-worker in a tussle on Diwali day in November last year.
S P S Oberoi, managing trustee of Dubai-based Sarbat Da Bhala Trust, who had saved 17 Indians from capital punishment in 2010 in a similar case by paying the blood money, told TOI that families of the accused had agreed to pay the money and they had already collected a part of the required amount.
The families had met Oberoi in Patiala last week.
"Father of the victim is in touch with Sarbat Da Bhala Trust and he had agreed to settle the case through blood money, which is the option as per Sharia law of the country. About Rs 45 lakh is required. Families of the Indians have collected around Rs 20 lakh, whereas three Pakistani families collected Rs 10 lakh," Oberoi told TOI from Dubai.
"The balance amount would be paid by the trust. We have also arranged lawyers to fight the case. It's not that the youths would be free after payment of blood money, but that would help in decreasing the quantum of sentence. It will save them from capital punishment," added Oberoi.
The Punjabi youths hail from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Jalandhar, Tarn Taran and Amrtisar districts of Punjab. (Sources: timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 03/11/2014)