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Gulf
Dreams Soured, he's is fighting court battles
The Indian Express - Tuesday September 22, 1998
By N V Davies
Haunted by his gruesome experience in the Al-Wathba prison
in the United Arab Emirates and the loss of all assets
created in 18 years of hard work in Abu Dhabi, P K Jabir
has been fighting for justice ever since he along with his
brother, was deported to India on September 28,1996
But his pleas for justice, to the authorities in India and
International bodies concerned with human rights, have so
far fallen on deaf ears. As far back as December 1996 he
had made a representation to the Union Government of India
and other authorities asking them to grant him leave to
institute legal proceedings against the state of UAE.
The NHRC of India was gracious enough to forward his
representation to the appropriate authorities. However
there was neither any permission granted nor reply
received from the The Government of India. The UN High
commissioner for Human Rights disposed of his petition.
Jabir, now living in his village home at Ovungal near
Chavakkad, narrated to The Indian Express his horrifying
story with supporting documents.
The bad days of the former NRI, who had established two
groups of firms - Ramla Electro Mechanical Est., Premier
General Contracting Est. and Summerpool Building Material
Trading - began when he signed a contract for leasing 24
flats owned by a local Arab, Hameed Saeed, in October
1995. According to the Agreement, involving over Rs 50
lakh, the flats were to be handed over to Jabir once the
advance was paid by cheque.
However, after receiving the cheque for the advance amount
the Arab did not comply with the conditions of the
contract. Jabir then filed a civil suit against Saeed. The
court restrained the Arab from encashing the cheque by
passing an order of Injunction. Jabir also obtained the
Court's permission for remittance of the sum covered by
the cheque in court. This infuriated the Arab, who
attacked Jabir and his brother in their office, allegedly
with the connivance of the local police.
Later the police asked them to withdraw the suit. When
they refused to sign they were abuse assaulted and jailed.
On May 19,1996 the court in its final verdict absolved
Jabir of all charges and ordered the Police to free the
brothers immediately. Back in India, in October 1996 the
Supreme Court while taking cognizance of the case
suggested the High Court deal with it. Jabir moved the
Delhi High Court, which directed the Union Government to
take steps within two months. The deadline set by the High
court is long past.
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