DADU/KARACHI: A model trial court in Dadu indicted on Saturday two members of the Sindh Assembly - PPP MPAs and brothers Burhan and Sardar Chandio - in a triple murder case.

Three members of a family, Raees Karamullah Chandio, the then chairman of the Baldai union council of Mehar taluka, and his two sons Mukhtiar Chandio and Qabil Chandio were shot dead on January 17, 2018 in the jurisdiction of the Faridabad police station.

The initial complaint, filed by another son of Raees, had nominated the Chandio brothers along with five others.

At today’s hearing, the two MPAs pleaded not guilty after charges were framed against them. Burhan has been charged with murder while Sardar has been charged with abetment. The court has summoned the witnesses at the next hearing, scheduled for December 3.

Five other suspects have also been nominated in the case. They have been identified as Sikandar, Ali Gohar, Sattar, Zulfiqar and Murtaza.

Umme Rubab Chandio, Mukhtiar’s daughter, told Aaj Digital that her father, paternal uncle and grandfather were killed because they were taking a stand against the feudal system which didn’t go down well with the tribal leaders. She says that the attack was carried out at the behest of Sardar, who is the chief of his tribe in Mehar. The complainants say that Sardar’s younger brother Burhan, who wasn’t an MPA at that time, was present at the shooting.

She said that she found police apathetic towards the case and attributed it to the ‘social and political capital’ of those nominated in the case. This compelled her to approach other forums, including jumping in front of the vehicle of the then Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nasir.

She filed a petition in the Supreme Court as well as campaigning for justice for her slain relatives. The then CJP took suo motu notice and assured Rubab of justice. It also ordered relevant police departments to provide her security after the complainant said that her family were being threatened to drop the case.