Two PPP MPAs indicted in triple murder case

Sardar Khan Chandio, Burhan Chandio say will challenge decision

HYDERABAD:

Two MPAs of Pakistan Peoples Party from Kamber-Shahdadkot district have been indicted in the triple murder case of a former union council chairman of PPP and his two sons over three and a half years after the killings. A court in Dadu district on Saturday announced the order of indictment of MPA Nawab Sardar Khan Chandio and his younger brother MPA Nawabzada Burhan Chandio.

The MPAs told the media that they would challenge the indictment. On the other hand, the young lawyer Ume Rubab Chandio felt relieved that her years long struggle has ultimately put the MPAs on trial for alleged murder of her father, uncle and grandfather.

The UC chairman Karamullah Chandio and his two sons Mukhtiar Chandio, Rubab's father, and her uncle Kamil Chandio who were all gunned down outside their house in Dadu on January 17, 2018. One of the alleged assailants was shot dead in the exchange of fire.

"The names of Nawab Sardar Khan Chandio and Nawabzada Burhan Chandio should be included in the FIR for their trial," said the model criminal trial court's judge Nadeem Badar Qazi as he read the order. Both the MPAs who are being nominated in the FIR as the accused were present in the courtroom. They pleaded not guilty and false implication in the case.

The other accused including Zulfiqar, Murtaza, Ali Gohar, Sattar and Sikandar were also brought from jail to the court during Saturday's hearing which was adjourned to September 25. Strict security arrangements were made outside the court. The incident's FIR was lodged at Mehar police station on the complaint of Pervez Chandio, a family member.

After the hearing, Rubab and Pervez were escorted back to Mehar by the law enforcement personnel. On August 28, Rubab had alleged that the MPAs attempted to take her life in an accident on the Indus highway when she was returning from the court to her home. The MPAs rejected the accusation and said that their three guards were injured in the accident of their vehicle which did not struck Rubab's vehicle but a car parked at the roadside.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2021.