NAWABSHAH: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Shaheed Benazirabad has rejected the pleas of 11 accused in the Chhotiariyoon (Sanghar) killing case for confirmation of their interim bail. They were accordingly remanded in jail custody till March 12.

The case pertained to the killing of three Junejo community members in the Jan 26 firing incident in Jani Junejo village near Sanghar.

A four-day protest sit-in was held by the aggrieved side soon after the incident. They were demanding registration of their FIR against 30 suspects, including Chhotiariyoon SHO Ghulam Mohammad Sahito and Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Salahuddin Junejo.

However, top PPP leadership intervened and arranged a reconciliation to bring an end to the sit-in.

The protesters call off their sit-in after agreeing only to exclude the name of MNA Salahuddin from their FIR. Later, a case was registered against 29 suspects.

On Monday, ATC Judge Abdul Ghafar Kalhoro took up the pleas of 11 accused for confirmation of their interim bail. After hearing the defence and prosecution sides, the judge rejected the pleas.

The main accused, Attaullah Junejo, SHO Ghulam Mohammad Sahito, and nine other accused were accordingly sent to jail on remand.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2025