Two PPP MPAs indicted in 2018 triple-murder case

Sardar Khan Chandio and his brother Burhan Chandio plead not guilty to charges

HYDERABAD:

The model criminal trial court in Dadu on Saturday framed charges against two brothers – both MPAs of the PPP – in a triple-murder case that dated back to January, 2018.

The judge read out the charges against MPAs Nawab Sardar Khan Chandio and his brother Nawabzada Burhan Chandio, both elected from Kambar-Shahdadkot district, besides other suspects in the court before adjourning the hearing till December 3.

The MPAs have pleaded not guilty to the charges and already obtained bail from the court.

The five other suspects include Ali Gohar, Sattar, Sikandar, Murtaza and Zulfiqar.

MPA Sardar told media personnel after the framing of charges that they had recorded their statements in the court.

He added that they would plead their case during the next hearing.

He maintained that he and his brother were falsely implicated in the triple-murder case, which was caused because of a personal enmity of the victims.

Advocate Umme Rubab Chandio -- who is pursuing the case of the murder of her father Mukhtiar Chandio, grandfather Raees Karamullah Chandio and uncle Kamil Chandio, who were gunned down in Ahmed Colony in Mehar taluka on January 17, 2018 -- expressed hope of receiving justice.

“I can foresee sardars and jagirdars hanging on the gallows,” she said while talking to  media personnel outside the court.

Raees was the chairman of the Baldai union council of Mehar taluka back then.
One of the alleged assailants was shot dead in the exchange of fire.

The victims' family, which was also politically affiliated with the PPP, believed that the attack was carried out at the behest of Sardar, who was the chieftain of his tribe in Mehar, and his younger brother Burhan, the then aide to the Sindh CM.

Pervez Chandio, a member of the family had the FIR registered and nominated the suspects including the two influential brothers for complicity in the attack on their residence and the murder of his three close relatives.

Last year, Rabab 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 their three guards were injured in the accident of their vehicle.

They claimed that it did not hit Rubab's vehicle but a car parked at the roadside.
After the hearing at a court last year, Rubab and Pervez were escorted back to Mehar by  law enforcement personnel.

Rubab had moved the Supreme Court after the Sindh police failed to arrest the absconding suspects in the case.

She also launched a protest campaign to seek the support of the civil society and political and nationalist parties in helping her bring all the culprits to justice.