Appeal likely tomorrow in UAE against death of 17 Indians

An appeal is likely to be filed tomorrow in UAE on behalf of 17 Indians facing death sentence there for killing a Pakistani.

"We have engaged Mhd Salman as the lawyer for these Indians. And an appeal is likely to be filed tomorrow in the case," officials said here today.

Seventeen Indians were sentenced to death on March 29 by a Sharjah shariah court for allegedly killing a Pakistani and injuring three others in an attack last year. There is a deadline of two weeks after the pronouncement of judgement within which an appeal has be filed, officials said.

The UAE government has already made it clear that its legal system guarantees a fair trial and the death sentence is subject to appeal and annulment by the rule of law without any interference from the parties concerned.

"We fully trust our legal system and its procedures and we are sure that it will provide and guarantee a fair trial to the convicted," the UAE embassy in New Delhi had said in a statement yesterday.

Terming as "very unfortunate" the death sentence given to 17 Indians, government has assured all possible help, including legal assistance to them.