DADU: Chandio chieftain in Mehar MPA Nawab Sardar Khan Chandio, who is also an influential political figure associated with Pakistan Peoples Party, along with his younger brother Nawab Burhan Chandio, a former adviser to the chief minister, and some other accused in a triple murder case appeared in the court of the first additional sessions judge of Dadu on Saturday.

The judge fixed the matter for Nov 21 and directed all accused to appear before him on the date.

The two brothers are accused of complicity in an armed attack on the residence of another senior PPP leader and Baldai union council chairman Raees Karamullah Chandio in Ahmed Colony, Mehar, on Jan 17, 2018. The UC chairman and his two sons, Mukhtiar and Qabil, as well as one of the attackers, were killed in the attack and counter-attack. Mukhtiar’s daughter, Umme Rubab, has waged a sustained campaign in different parts of the province for justice and been actively pursuing the case for almost three years.

Complainant of the case, Pervaiz Chandio, and Umme Rubab were also present in the sessions court when the matter was taken up on Saturday. Three arrested accused, Ali Gohar Chandio, Sattar Chandio, and Sikandar Chandio, were brought to the court by police whereas the remaining two accused, Murtaza and Zulfiqar, are absconding.

Umme Rubab appeals to PPP leaders to ensure justice, stop siding with accused

MPA Sardar Chandio and Nawab Burhan deny having anything to do with the attack and PPP’s Sindh leadership had strongly reacted to alleged raids on the MPA’s residence during the recent IG-led operation conducted by seven districts’ police to apprehend the two absconding accused.

Stringent security arrangements were made by police and Rangers personnel at and around the sessions court on Saturday to meet any eventuality as supporters of both sides had gathered there to witness the court proceedings.

PPP chairman urged to ensure justice

After attending the hearing, Umme Rubab and Pervaiz Chandio visited the local press club and appealed to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to ensure justice pointing out that the party’s provincial leaders were siding with the MPA and other accused in the case.

She reminded the PPP leadership that her slain grandfather, father and uncle, like other family members, were as loyal to the party as were the MPA and his family.

There had never been a political rivalry between the two sides, she said. She wondered why Mr Bhutto-Zardari and certain other PPP leaders were siding with those accused of the murderous attack on her family.

Umme Rubab also expressed surprise over being denied access to the Bhuttos’ mausoleum last Sunday when she along with some of her supporters proceeded to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto to lay wreaths on their graves.

She said she was denied the right to register her complaint against the party leadership’s attitude to the martyrs.

She recalled that several civil society activists accompanied her when she, carrying a black flag, held a protest outside the mausoleum that day against failure of the police to apprehend the remaining two accused in the case.

The mausoleum management had locked the gates to stop her from entering it and a police force had been deployed there to, what was claimed, avoid possible clashes.

The Larkana SSP has through his PRO explained that the security was beefed up to avoid clashes between the protesters and those visiting the mausoleum from Naudero and Ratodero.

Finding the gates closed, Umme Rubab had told the media that she was disappointed over the steps as she only wanted to convey her pain to the martyrs for justice.

Later, she had placed wreaths on the road outside the mausoleum and asked its managers to lay them on the graves inside on her behalf.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2020