SC reserves judgment in triple murder case

The Supreme Court Thursday reserved judgment in triple murder case of Dadu District involving Pakistan People's Party (PPP) MPA Nawab Sardar Khan Chandio.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam heard the petition of Umme Rubab Chandio against the PPP MPA for murdering his father Mukhtiar Ahmed Chandio, grandfather Raees Karamullah Chandio and paternal uncle Qabil Chandio.

They were gunned down on January 17, 2018 within the limits of Faridabad Police Station, Mehar taluka of Dadu District.

Member of Sindh Assembly, belonging to the PPP, Nawab Sardar Ahmed Chandio and his brother Nawab Burhan Khan Chandio were among the accused nominated in the first information report (FIR) registered at A-Section police station on the complaint of Pervez Ahmed Chandio, Karamullah's son.

Advocate Faisal Siddiqui, counsel for the petitioner, argued through video-link from Karachi Registry that the triple murder was of the act of political terrorism.

He said the accused used terrorism for political motives. He argued that according to the apex court judgment there were three sorts of terrorism i.e. political, ideological and religious.

He said the accused has used terrorism for becoming "Sardar" of the tribe. Faisal Siddiqui contended that in this case society peace was damaged, adding for political purpose the petitioner's father, grandfather and uncle were killed.

The counsel for the accused, Sardar Latif Khosa, argued that both the parties are Sardars and close relatives. He contended it was a matter of personal enmity. Justice Afridi questioned how they would differentiate between personal enmity and political terrorism.

Latif Khosa said if people are instigated for committing murder for political purpose then it would fall under political terrorism. He said in this case two families of the same tribe were fighting for the 'Sardari'.

He said terrorism law was used for obtaining Sardari of the tribe. He said in case under Section 302 of PPC the Sessions judge has the same power as of the judge of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC).

Prosecutor General Sindh supported the accused counsel that the case should be tried in Sessions Court instead of ATC. In the last hearing, the apex court had reprimanded Sindh police officials over the non-arrest of the two accused in the 2018 triple murder case.