MITHI: The additional sessions judge of Mithi on Thursday granted bail to all suspects, who faced charges of torturing a labourer Dodo Bheel to death on June 30, after the victim’s heirs informed the court they had no objection to the bail.

Aalim Bheel, brother of the victim and complainant in the murder case, his father Karno Bheel and Dodo’s widow Surya Bheel appeared in the court along with their lawyer advocate Wasand Thari and submitted the NOC, stating that they had no objection if the court granted the bail to the suspects.

They told the court that they had decided to withdraw charges against the accused officials of the mining firm after reaching an out of court settlement with them on certain preconditions. The judge, after hearing the heirs and their lawyer, granted the bail on submission of surety bond worth Rs20,000 each.

“We do not have enough money to hire lawyers to pursue the case and block the suspects’ attempt to get the bail” said Aalim.

He confirmed that he had earlier submitted the NOC to Sindh High Court in previous hearing in favour of the suspects, including Kashif Raza alias Commando, Qamar Abbas and others, who were directly or indirectly involved in the murder case.

He said that the family took the step after some notables of the area convinced them to settle the issue with the suspects and others in lieu of compensation of Rs10 million and offer of jobs to youths of their family in the mining company.

“We, family members including my mother, Dodo’s widow and other relatives mulled over the offer for days before reaching a decision to pardon the suspects through proper channels,” he added.

He admitted that before appearing in the court they had received Rs2 million and would get the remaining amount as per agreement after the suspects were exonerated of murder charges.

He said that according to the settlement, seven of their youths would be given jobs in coal fields and the officials would bear expenses of education of the victim’s children.

Karno Bheel, late Dodo’s father and his mother, also confirmed that they had agreed to pardon the suspects and said the accused officials had sent members of their families who entreated them to accept the settlement.

Nandlal Malhi, information secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party Tharparkar chapter, said in a press statement that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders, including advocate Lajpat Soorani and his associates, had been pressing Dodo Bheel’s heirs to pardon the accused since the day the murder took place.

He said the criminal interference by PTI leaders greatly benefited the poor labourer’s killers who would easily get off the hook after paying some amount. PPP would strongly resist any move by the accused to resume job in any mining firm once they were exonerated of murder charges in the wake of the rapprochement, he said.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2021