Navi Mumbai: The Raigad-based family members of 25-year-old Atif Qamruddin Popere, who has been sentenced to face the firing squad by the highest court in Dubai for killing his wife, are now seeking mercy from her family in Mumbai as a condition for handing over custody of the couple’s girl child to the maternal grandparents.On Friday, Atif’s mother met the mother of his murdered wife, Bushra nee Minnie Dhananjayan , at the Bombay high court for the ongoing custody battle for the six-year-old. The accused’s mother, Fairoza Popere, verbally assured Bushra’s mother, Usha Dhananjayan, that the child’s custody will be given to them, provided they hand over the mercy petition that could save Atif.Usha told TOI: “It is not easy to forgive someone who has ruthlessly murdered your daughter. I have been advised to seek some time to think over the mercy petition as we are keen on raising our minor granddaughter instead of keeping her with the killer’s family in Raigad.”What has added to the legal complication in the case is that in the past, the Popere family had levied serious allegations against the Dhananjayan family in their bid to keep the child’s custody.Abraham Mathai, former vice-chairman of Maharashtra State Minorities Commission who is legally assisting the Dhananjayan family in the case, said: “According to legal procedures in the UAE , the life of a convict who is given the death sentence can be spared if the opposite party is willing to sign the mercy petition. So, it is natural for the Popere family to seek mercy from the Dhananjayans. But past bitterness, including murder of their daughter in Dubai and the levelling of various other allegations and complaints in India (for the child’s custody), has made this mercy plea a bit tricky.”Mathai further said, “I have told Usha to take her time, as her decision will be final. Also, all religions, including mine (Christianity), do preach about the virtues of forgiveness. However, it is imperative to consider the grief and pain caused to Usha, especially by the alleged motivated charges levied by the Poperes for the child’s custody.”On March 11, 2013, Atif had strangled Bushra to death at their Dubai flat. He was helped by a friend of Pakistani origin in the murder. Within three months of the crime, both were arrested by the UAE police. Both were sentenced to death by a firing squad in early 2015. He appealed for a lesser sentence, which was turned down by an appeals court. On December 21, 2015, the highest court in Dubai reconfirmed the death sentence for the duo.While Bushra’s family had welcomed the order, they are currently fighting for the legal custody of their granddaughter, who is currently with the Popere family in Mangaon, Raigad district.When TOI contacted Atif’s kin, they confirmed that they met the Dhananjayan family in the high court. “We are strictly going by the legal procedure. Since mercy petition for those facing death is allowed in the UAE, we have asked Usha ma’am to consider it, as it will not only save Atif, but the minor girl’s custody will also be given to the maternal grandparents,” said Atif’s uncle, who is close to the Popere family.Atif and Minnie, who later changed her name to Bushra, got married in 2008. Their daughter was born a year later. They both left for Dubai on work. By the end of 2012, the couple began to face marital problems, followed by the shocking murder in 2013.Meanwhile, the Bombay high court has given a date later this month to hear the custody case.