LARKANA: Model Criminal Trial Court (MCTC) Judge Tariq Bhatti on Tuesday read out his short verdict in open court, sentencing accused Saadullah Nang Panhwar to life term and fined him Rs3.5 million which is to be paid to the heirs of the deceased.

On Sept 2, 2010, the accused, along with his brothers, brutally murdered Abdul Hakeem Panhwar — brother of complainant Abdul Aziz Panhwar — by repeatedly stabbing him with a knife over a dispute regarding the unauthorised harvesting of a rice crop.

The victim died on the spot. Following the incident, the complainant registered a case at Wagan police station under FIR No. 83/2010, invoking Sections 302, 114, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the accused and his brothers.

On the very day the FIR was registered, accused Saadullah alias Nang Panhwar was arrested along with the alleged murder weapon. However, he was later granted bail by the court, following which he absconded. He was re-arrested last year after remaining a fugitive for over a decade.

During the trial, the accused was given full opportunity to prove his innocence, but he failed to establish any defence and appeared helpless throughout the proceedings.

On the prosecution side, the case was conducted from beginning to end by Ali Hassan Mugheri, who presented the testimony of the complainant, investigating officer and two other state witnesses before the court in a consistent manner. The remaining witnesses, however, turned hostile.

In addition to the primary sentence, the accused has been ordered to pay the fine. In case of non-payment, the amount will be recovered from his property, failing which he will have to serve an additional two years’ imprisonment.

Upon announcement of the verdict, the accused was shifted under tight security to the Central Prison Larkana.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2026