Three men on death row in Iraq terror case

Families in Gujranwala, Sargodha on tenterhooks

GUJRANWALA:

Three men from Gujranwala and Sargodha, including two cousins, are facing the death sentence in Iraq.

The families of the three youths are looking towards the government to assist them in pursuing legal proceedings in Iraq to save their lives.

According to reports, two young men of Gujranwala, Shoaib Akhter and Umar Farooq, along with the latter's cousin from Sargodha, Ali Haider, have been convicted and sentenced to death in Iraq.

The three young men have been charged with having links with terrorist groups, murder and other crimes in an Iraqi court. Relatives of the men in Gujranwala told The Express Tribune that that they had travelled to the country on visas for pilgrimage.

The cousins Umar and Ali had gone went about one and a half years ago reportedly because they had bene told that there were job opportunities in Iraq and labourers earn well there.

Both the youths, who were 17 years old, had obtained visas as pilgrims and gone to Iraq, but instead of returning, they started working there to financially support their families. The financial condition of their families had also improved during the period.

The families of the youths insisted that they had not indulged in any criminal activity. Shoaib, a neighbor of Umar, also went to Iraq after seeing his improved economic condition.

The father of Shoaib is a driver but is unable to earn much because of suffering a fractured leg.

The parents of the youth had hoped that he would be employed, but he was arrested.

His father refused to believe that he could be involved in heinous crimes like murder and terrorism. He said his wife and children kept crying and praying for Shoaib's life.

Umar's father Wajad Ali and uncles said their two children had gone to Ali Haider's home in Sargodha when they came to know about the case six months ago.

They said a Pakistani national had contacted them from Iraq and told them that their children were facing charges of murder and terrorism. He said that the youths could not be saved without hiring a lawyer, which would requires Rs400,000.

They sent Rs350,000 after taking loan but a lawyer was not hired and the suspects were not heard in ten court, the family alleged.

They said Ali's mother had suffered paralysis because of shock over his ordeal and was under treatment in intensive care.

An uncle of Umar said the youths facing the conviction were innocent and helpless. He urged the government to help them.

The families said the youths should have been given an opportunity to defend themselves in the court. The government should provide a lawyer to save their lives, they added.

However, according to the decision of the Federal Court of Iraq, the three youths had operated as a terrorist group and murdered a person.

According to the court, the accused had confessed to the crime, after which the case that been registered and they had been charged.

The Iraqi court sentenced the three to death and they have the right to appeal within 30 days of the verdict.

However, their families said they lacked the resources required to help the men, calling for support by the government at the diplomatic level.