Security concerns: Men accused of JUI-F leader’s murder still waiting for trial

Police say they have asked the home dept to conduct the trial in jail

SUKKUR: Five men arrested for the murder of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam — Fazl's leader, Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, have still not been tried by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) due to security concerns. Sources claim that Muhammad Hanif Bhutto, Altaf Jamali, Darya Khan Jamali, Mushtaq Mahar and police constable Sarang Ali Totani were arrested on the alleged charges of killing Dr Soomro. So far they have only been produced twice before an ATC in Sukkur.

Since their last hearing, the accused have not been presented in court due to security reasons. The police suspect that the accused might be attacked on the way to court from the prison. Sukkur police have requested the home department to allow the trial to take place inside the prison. They sent a request more than three months ago but the home department has not responded as yet.

While talking to The Express Tribune, SSP Sukkur Tanveer Hussain Tunio, said that as this was a high-profile case and that they had written a letter to the home department asking the authorities to let them conduct the trial within the prison's premises as presenting the accused in court could be risky.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2015.