Sukkur Anti-Terrorism Court landmark ruling in Khalid Soomro homicide case
In a major development, the Sukkur Anti-Terrorism Court has surpassed the sentence of lifestyles imprisonment passed for six accused men and women in the homicide case of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Dr. Khalid Mahmood Soomro. Judge Abdul Rehman Qazi, who in the quick verdict reserved on December 13 pronounced the accused responsible of homicide and terrorism charges, imposed extra fines as part of the sentence.
The Accused and the Charges
The convicted persons, Hanif Bhutto, Mushtaq Mehar, Altaf Jamali, Lutf Jamali, Sarang Jamali, and Darya Khan Jamali, have been behind bars at the Central Jail since 2014. The court had handed them down life imprisonment for murder and terrorism, along with additional seven years for illegal possession of arms. This decision marks nearly a decade-long jail struggle after the murder of Dr. Khalid Mahmood Soomro.
A Family’s Pursuit of Justice
Outside the court, Rashid Mahmood Soomro, central chief of the JUI and son of the late Khalid Soomro, said he felt mixed emotions about the verdict. While accepting the verdicts, Rashid termed the selection “incomplete justice.” He said that the convicted men should have been given the death penalty under Sharia law and Islamic teachings.
“Our Struggle for Justice Continues”
Speaking to the media, Rashid Mahmood Soomro vowed to enchantment the verdict in the Sindh High Court, stating, “We have been looking for justice for ten years and will now not give up till the accused are sentenced to death.” He reiterated the family’s dedication to pursuing their prison conflict peacefully whilst keeping belief in the judiciary.
Public Reaction: Justice or Leniency?
The verdict has ignited a controversy throughout Pakistan with opinions on whether existence imprisonment is sufficient justice for a case of this magnitude. Legal professionals and religious students have also commented on the balance between the law of the land and Islamic jurisprudence.
The birthright of Khalid Mahmood Soomro
Dr. Khalid Mahmood Soomro was once one of the outstanding figures within JUI and a venerated leader whose murder shook the entire nation. The conviction, although historic, only raises questions about the fullness of justice in assassinations of political and religious leaders.
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