SUKKUR: The Sukkur bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday restrained Dadu district and sessions court from proceeding with the trial of triple murder of Chandios, who were allegedly killed by members of an influential family of Mehar in January this year, and fixed the case for hearing on Jan 1, 2019.

A two-member bench comprising Justices Mohammad Iqbal Mahar and Amjad Ali Sahito passed the directive on a petition filed by Ms Umm-i-Rubab, close relative of Karamullah, Mukhtiar and Qabil Chandio, who had challenged transfer of the case from the Sukkur antiterrorism court to the district and sessions court.

PPP MPA Sardar Khan Chandio and his brother Burhan Chandio were among the main suspects nominated in the triple murder case.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the transfer of murder case to the sessions court was unlawful and requested the court to reject the transfer and stop trial of the case in the sessions court till the high court gave its decision in the present petition.

The respondents’ counsel said the ATC had given the decision as per law and the district and sessions court be allowed to proceed with the case’s trial.

After hearing both sides, the court issued stay order to stop the district and sessions court from proceeding with the trial, ordered the petitioner’s lawyer to include names of two other accused in the case ie Sikandar and Zulfiqar and adjourned the case to Jan 1, 2019.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2018