A 78-year old Pakistani national expressed relief that he has paid off the blood money (diya) after three years of suffering from litigation procedures.

Gulzar Bhatti had met with a car accident involving an Iranian family three years ago that required him to pay SR 20,000 as blood money to save his life from execution. He was initially asked to pay SR 50,000 which was later reduced.

Bhatti called Arab News to inform that he had paid off the blood money and expressed his gratitude to the English daily for publishing his story that helped him raise money for the blood money.

He said he was sick with chronic asthma and other complications and undergoing treatment at King Fahd Hospital in Madinah. This had made it difficult for him to work and to pay off the blood money.

The septuagenarian also thanked the Pakistani Consulate in Jeddah for asking the business community to raise the financial assistance for him.

Bhatti was under pressure as he was given a May deadline by the Iranian Consulate to pay his dues.

Owing to health issues and no one to care for him, the Pakistan Consulate stepped in and helped to reduce the blood money to SR 20,000. Pakistani Consul General Aftab Khokher also appealed to the Pakistani business community to fulfil their social and moral responsibility and come to the aid of their countryman.

Bhatti said the Iranian Consulate also helped settle the issue between the two parties.

“I spoke to Arab News with the hope that someone might have mercy on me and help me out of this difficult situation. Thanks to Arab News, my community, the Pakistan Consul General Aftab Khokher and Tahsemm ul Huq, the welfare counsel, my dues are paid off and I am relieved,” he said.

“I would personally like to thank Khokher and his team and the Managing Editor of Arab News, Hani Hazaimeh for all he and his newspaper have done for me. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude,” he concluded.

Tahsemm ul Huq told Arab News that his consulate and the Pakistani businessmen jointly arranged to pay off the blood money, but the couple’s son demanded a greater amount which took more time to arrange.

Huq said the amount was paid to the Iranian Consulate by the Pakistan consulate and that Bhatti had received the release papers. He thanked everyone who had contributed to helping their countryman in need.