Govt says it has engaged lawyers to appeal against sentence

New Delhi, April 05: Government has said it has engaged prominent lawyers of UAE to file an appeal in higher court against the sentencing of 17 Indians on death row for allegedly killing a Pakistani.

The Indian consulate in Sharjah has been taking services of prominent lawyers and an appeal to the higher court will be made within the prescribed period of two weeks from the date of judgment by the lower court, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said in Patiala on Sunday.

Seventeen Indians were sentenced to death on 29th March by a Sharjah shariah court for allegedly killing a Pakistani and leaving three others injured in an attack last year.

Kaur, who met families of the 17 convicted Indians and assured them support, said that the UAE ambassador has been called by Ministry of External Affairs and a secretary level officer was in touch with embassy officials.

—Agencies