Zardaris allegedly murdered five Bhands and one police officer on February 12 over a land dispute.
The Zardaris killed five members of the Bhand community and one police officer over a land dispute in Pakistan’s Sindh on February 12.
The Bhand and Mallah community have been harvesting at the 350-acres disputed site, which Zardaris tried to grab using political patronage and police power.
On February 12, Zardaris, along with police personnel in 20 vehicles, reached the disputed site and demanded that they be freed immediately, to which the Bhands protested.
Five Bhands and one police officer lost their lives in the heavy firing. Mohsin Zardari, Abid Zardari, and Shahzado Zardari were booked as prime suspects in the FIR registered to vide crime No.1/22.
Local sources told ANI that the disputed land is very fertile and is allegedly encroached on by the Zardari tribals at the behest of the main leader of Sindh’s ruling party.
Mohsin Zardari, the relative of Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman and former President of Pakistan Asif Zardari, told the media that members of the Bhand community were killed in an exchange of fire between them and the police and the Zardari tribe had nothing to do with the killings.
Pakistan People’s Party is currently in power in the Sindh province. Soon after the murder, members of the Bhand community, supported by Sindh United Party and other opposition entities including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, held a sit-in blocking the main highway. The Bhands also refused to bury their dead until all those involved in the killing were booked and arrested.
After three days of sit-in, the Zardaris returned the 159 acres of the encroached land. Burial of the bodies took place only after the negotiations yielded results, and police booked members of the Zardari clan for the murder of the Bhands.
After heavy negotiations from both sides, an FIR was registered under sections 302, 324, 147, 148, 149 of the PPC against 17 suspects at the Mirzapur police station. Mohsin Zardari, Abid Zardari, and Shahzado Zardari were booked as prime suspects in the FIR registered to vide crime No.1/22. After negotiations, the Bhand family agreed not to include the name of MPA Haji Ali Hassan Zardari in the FIR.
