Sukkur: Anti-Terrorism Court Sentences Six Men to Life Imprisonment in JUI-F Leader Dr. Khalid Mahmood Soomro Murder Case

Sukkur (Qudrat Newspaper):** The **Anti-Terrorism Court** in Sukkur has announced its verdict in the murder case of **Dr. Khalid Mahmood Soomro**, a prominent leader of **Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F)**, sentencing all six accused to **life imprisonment** along with a heavy fine. The court, led by Judge **Abdul Rehman Qazi**, delivered the brief verdict, sentencing the six accused to life imprisonment and imposing a **fine of Rs. 10 lakh** on each.

Dr. Khalid Mahmood Soomro was **gunned down on November 29, 2014**, in Sukkur. The **Anti-Terrorism Court** conducted over **450 hearings** in the case, with **17 witnesses** providing testimonies. The court had reserved its judgment on December 13, and the final verdict was pronounced amidst **tight security** measures at the Central Jail Sukkur, where a special court was set up for the hearing.

The six convicted individuals in the case are **Hanif Bhutto**, **Sarang Totani**, **Mushtaq Mehr**, **Darya Khan Jamali**, **Lutf Jamali**, and **Altaf Jamali**. They have been in **custody at the Central Jail** since **December 2014**. The court found the accused guilty of **murder** and **terrorism**, and sentenced them to life imprisonment for the murder and an additional **7 years** for possessing illegal weapons.

In response to the verdict, **Maulana Rashid Mahmood Soomro**, a relative of the victim, expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, stating that the perpetrators should have been sentenced to **death** given the severity of their crime. He also mentioned that they would **challenge the verdict in the High Court**.

The decision in this high-profile case, which has been a significant one for the JUI-F and the larger political community in Sindh, was a result of years of legal proceedings and investigations. The murder of Dr. Soomro had sparked considerable attention and controversy, with many demanding swift justice.