UAE row: Govt to bear all expenses

Terming as "very unfortunate" the death sentence to 17 Indians in UAE for killing a Pakistani, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today instructed his ministry to assist them in filing an appeal and also bear all the expenses involved.

Terming as "very unfortunate" the death sentence to 17 Indians in UAE for killing a Pakistani, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today instructed his ministry to assist them in filing an appeal and also bear all the expenses involved.

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"Well, it is a very unfortunate incident.....I have today issued instructions that we should assist them in preferring an appeal and also bear all the expenses that the persons will inevitably have to bear. So, I think government will bear that expenditure," Krishna said.

As many as 17 Indians, mostly hailing from Punjab, have been sentenced to death by Sharjah's Shariah court for killing a Pakistani man and injuring three others in an alleged fight over illegal alcohol business.

The minister also said, "We have been able to obtain consular access to all 17 and they are keeping good health."