Dadu court acquits all accused in Ume Rubab Chandio family murder case

The Dadu district court on Monday acquitted all eight accused, including two Pakistan People’s Party MPAs, in the high-profile murder case of lawyer Ume Rubab Chandio’s grandfather, father and uncle.

Rubab was following the case related to the murder of his father, Mukhtiar Chandio; his grandfather, Raees Karamullah Chandio, and his uncle, Kamil Chandio, who were shot dead in broad daylight at Ahmed Colony in Mehar Taluka on January 17, 2018. The case had been ongoing for over eight years, with 392 hearings during the trial.

Additional Sessions Judge and Model Criminal Court Judge Hussain Kalor, who had reserved the verdict a month ago, stated in his order issued today that no evidence was found to prove the charges against the accused, including Sardar Ahmed Khan Chandio and Burhan Khan Chandio, and accordingly ordered their release.

Strict security measures were implemented before the verdict. Police forces, including 30 police station officers from across the district, six deputy superintendents of police and 589 personnel, were deployed and road closures were imposed within a two-kilometre radius of the court.

Read more: In the midst of feudalism, Umme Rubab marches barefoot to fight for justice

Reacting to the verdict, Rubab expressed his resolve and said, “My spirits are high. The world is shocked that the feudal lords of Sindh are being given a license to commit murder. I will challenge the verdict in the high court.”

His lawyer, Salahuddin Panhwar, confirmed that an appeal against the decision would be filed before the Sindh High Court.

Also read: Two PPP AMPs charged in 2018 triple murder case

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman sharply criticized the acquittal, saying: “The court’s decision has once again proven that the justice system is subservient to powerful feudal lords.”

“I salute the daughter of the nation, Ume Rubab Chandio, for her tireless fight for justice,” he added.

Addressing the PPP president, he asked, “Isn’t Ume Rubab Chandio a daughter of Sindh?”

He further criticized the system and asked: “Are the powerful and the feudal lords your favorites?”

The JI chief urged political parties and human rights organizations to support Rubab in his quest for justice.