Dubai Accident: Court Orders AED 200,000 'Blood Money' for Family of Deceased Pakistani National

DUBAI: The Dubai Criminal Court has ordered the payment of AED 200,000 (approximately 1 Crore 52 Lakh Pakistan Rupees) as 'Diyya' (blood money) to the family of Muhammad Asif Khuda Bakhsh (a resident of Bahawalpur, Pakistan), who died in a traffic accident in Dubai on January 8, 2025.

The tragic accident occurred on Al Ittihad Road, in the direction of Sharjah, opposite the Dubai Police General Headquarters. The incident involved multiple vehicles, including four cars and two motorcycles.

The major accident was caused by an Iranian driver who suddenly swerved without due care and attention. The Iranian driver's vehicle initially struck a car driven by an Egyptian national. The impact caused the Egyptian's car to lose control and hit a motorcycle travelling in front of it. That motorcycle subsequently skidded and collided with the motorcycle driven by Asif Khuda Bakhsh, who was travelling on Al Ittihad Road. Asif died at the scene.

The driver responsible, an Iranian national, claimed through his wife's testimony that he lost control of the vehicle after experiencing a sudden health issue just before the accident.

After considering the case, the Dubai Criminal Court convicted the driver, imposing a fine of AED 10,000 and revoking his driving license for six months. In addition, the court ordered him to pay AED 200,000 in 'Diyya' to the family of the deceased, Muhammad Asif.

Muhammad Asif's family consists of his elderly parents and his wife. Recognizing that the court-ordered 'Diyya' of AED 200,000 may not be sufficient, the family's lawyer has filed a civil compensation claim in the Dubai Civil Court, seeking further damages. The insurance company responsible for the vehicle that caused the accident has been named as the opposing party in the lawsuit.

Asif's family approached Mr. Salam Pappinissery, CEO of the prominent Dubai law firm Yab Legal Services, to handle their case. Under his guidance, the lawyer registered the case and secured the 'Diyya' payment, providing all necessary legal documents, including the Bread Winner Certificate and the Legal Heirs Certificate.