Murtaza Chandio and Zulfiqar Chandio, declared proclaimed offenders in the triple murder case implicating Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Nawab Sardar Khan Chandio and his alleged henchmen, have managed to escape to Balochistan despite a week-long police operation in the Kirthar mountain range to arrest them, according to police sources who have requested anonymity.
Following this, Sukkur Additional IGP Dr Kamran Fazal has tasked Larkana SSP Masood Bangash to coordinate with the Balochistan government to arrest the accused.
Murtaza and Zulfiqar are wanted in the murder case of Raees Karamullah Chandio and his sons, Mukhtiar Chandio and Kamil Chandio, who were shot dead by armed men in Dadu district's Mehar taluka on January 17, 2018.
"The Sindh Police only geared into action after the Supreme Court put the provincial IGP on notice for the next hearing," claimed Advocate Ume Rubab Chandio, Mukhtiar's daughter who has been pursuing the murder case, while addressing a rally in Larkana on Sunday.
She complained that the police did not bother to arrest the absconders during the last three years until the apex court took up her plea and put the provincial police on notice.
"I have been saying from the first day that Sardar and Burhan are the real killers. Those being hunted by the police were just hired for the murders," she alleged, asserting that if they weren't involved in the murders, they should appear before the court.
Rubab addressed the rally, taken out from Mehar, outside the Bhutto mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bux. The participants of the rally were not allowed to enter the mausoleum, which has been closed for visitors.
"By closing the mausoleum, the PPP leadership has given the message that it is afraid of this 21-year-old girl who is demanding justice for her martyred family," she said, adding that after the apex court's order, the Sindh IGP had reached out to her and assured her that the police would apprehend the absconders.
Meanwhile, Sardar's supporters continued to protest in several towns of Sindh for the second day, in reaction to a police raid at the MPA's house. The protesters maintained that their chieftain was being unnecessarily dragged into an incident involving two local groups of the Chandio community.
Both Sardar and Burhan have obtained pre-arrest bail from the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2020.
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