Businessman buys air tickets for 13 prisoners
dubai — A total of 13 inmates, who were languishing in Dubai prisons after completing their jail terms, have got a new lease of life, thanks to an Indian businessman who paid for their air tickets. The men were released from jail on Monday and will soon fly home.
Indian businessman Joginder Singh Salaria, chairman and managing director of Pehal International Transport and founder of Pehal Charitable Trust (PCT Humanity), purchased oneway flight tickets for 13 prisoners from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Afghanistan, Nigeria, China and Ethiopia, in coordination with the Dubai Police authorities. The prisoners, according to Salaria, were imprisoned for committing minor crimes and were sentenced to deportation.
“Unfortunately, the men could not afford to pay for the air tickets. The Dubai Police work with PCT Humanity on several charitable activities, including blood donation campaigns. Now, we are providing travel assistance to 13 people from different countries so they can fly home to be with their families,” Salaria told Khaleej Times.
He added: “Police authorities provided us with a list of names of prisoners. Most of the convicts were jailed for committing minor crimes, such as overstay cases or small disputes with their employees. They did not have anyone to help them out.”
The Dubai Police, according to Salaria, were very cooperative and supporting in this endeavour.
“PCT Humanity is very thankful to the police for giving us an opportunity to help these prisoners. We have also expressed our willingness to the police to continue our support in this regard. We will continue providing such legal assistance to people, irrespective of their caste, religion and country.”
Earlier this year, Salaria installed over 60 hand pumps in a poverty-stricken district of Pakistan’s southeastern Sindh province. Khaleej Times reported PCT Humanity’s initiative to instal 62 water pumps in Tharparkar district.
Most of the convicts were jailed for committing minor crimes. They did not have anyone to help them out.” Joginder Singh Salaria, founder of Pehal Charitable Trust