HYDERABAD: In a shocking honour killing incident in Batto Chandio village near Tando Masti in Khairpur district, the prime suspect, Qaisar Chandio, has confessed to the murder of Khalida Chandio, police sources confirmed.
Another suspect, Wali Chandio, who denied the charges, was presented before a court, which handed him over to the police on four-day physical remand for further investigation.
A district and sessions court also ordered the arrest of Naban Chandio for allegedly announcing the jirga verdict that declared the victim Kari, directing the authorities to produce him before the court.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Khairpur Altaf Ahmed Chachar decided to form an investigation committee to probe the incident. The committee will submit its report after completing its inquiry. The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner-II Abdul Hakeem Dharejo, District Health Officer Dr. Kaleemullah Sheikh, Sindh Human Rights Commission member Khadim Hussain Dhoat, Deputy Director Social Welfare Zulfiqar Ali Sheikh, Assistant Director Social Welfare Mudassar Rahoojo, DSP City Asadullah, Child Protection Officer Qamaruddin Channa, Human Rights Commission member Deepa Kumari, DSP Central Jail Waheed Ali Jaskani, Assistant Director Women Development Daniyal Kakipota, and other relevant officials. Addressing the meeting, the deputy commissioner termed the incident deeply tragic and highly condemnable, stating that such acts cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. He emphasized that the Sindh government is taking serious measures to ensure the protection of women and that no negligence in this case will be tolerated. The investigation committee comprises representatives from revenue, police, health, women development, human rights, and social welfare departments. It will visit the crime scene, record statements of eyewitnesses and local residents, and submit a detailed report to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. Separately, a social group announced that it will visit Tando Masti on Sunday to offer funeral prayers for the deceased Khalida, also known as Rubina. MNA Nawab Ali Wassan also visited the bereaved family, expressed condolences, and assured them that all accused would be arrested soon. He further stressed that the deceased should be buried again in accordance with Islamic rites. According to the FIR lodged at Tando Masti Police Station on behalf of the state, a police party comprising officials, including police constables Riaz Ali Sheikh, Muhammad Rafiq Khanyio, and Mumtaz Ali Mahar, was on routine patrol in the early hours of April 10, when they received information near Faiz Wah stop about a woman being assaulted over allegations of illicit relations. Acting on the tip-off, the police team reached the location near a shop in Batto Chandio village, where they saw four armed men and a woman standing by a mobile phone’s light. The suspects were identified as Qaisar Chandio, Pehlwan Chandio, Ghulam Abbas alias Baju Chandio, and Wali Muhammad Chandio. The FIR states that Wali Muhammad allegedly declared the woman, identified as Khalida aka Rubina, wife of Rashid Chandio, as ‘Kari’ and ordered others to kill her. Despite police warning the suspects not to open fire, three men allegedly fired shots at the woman with pistols at around 3:30am, killing her on the spot.
