By Riaz Narijo
DADU: Seven years have passed since the tragic killing of Umme Rabab Chandio’s father, grandfather, and uncle, with the Model Criminal Trial Court concluding the first hearing of the eighth year on Friday.
Complainant Parvez Ahmed Chandio and Umme Rabab Chandio, accompanied by their legal team, attended the session alongside the accused, including PPP MPAs Sardar Ahmed Chandio and Burhan Khan Chandio. The complainant’s lawyers presented nearly six hours of final arguments before the hearing was adjourned until today, with the verdict expected to be reserved.
The case stems from the January 17, 2018, attack in Mehar city, where armed assailants fatally shot Chandio’s family members. FIRs were filed against eight accused, including the two PPP MPAs. Currently, four suspects remain in judicial custody, while the others, including the MPAs, are out on bail and facing trial. Over 386 hearings have been conducted since the case was transferred to the Model Court.
Umme Rabab Chandio claimed her family was targeted for forming a Tamdaar Council opposing the feudal system, highlighting her father’s activism against karo-kari practices and efforts to establish schools in Mehar. She expressed hope that the case would set a historic precedent and reaffirmed her faith in the justice system. Sardar Ahmed Chandio denied the allegations, calling them baseless and insisting that justice would prevail.
