ATC Convicts Six in JUI-F Leader Khalid Mehmood Soomro’s Murder Case

Nearly a decade after the assassination of Jamiat Ulema-Islam (JUI-F) leader Khalid Mehmood Soomro, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Sukkur on Friday convicted all six accused in the case.

The court sentenced Hanif, Sarang, Mushtaq Mehar, Darya Khan, Latif Jamali, and Altaf Jamali to two life terms each and imposed fines. The convicts were found guilty of murder, terrorism, and illegal possession of weapons. They have been held in Sukkur Central Jail since their arrest in December 2014.

Khalid Mehmood Soomro, a prominent JUI-F leader and the party’s Sindh secretary general, was gunned down on November 29, 2014, while leaving a mosque in Sukkur after offering Fajr prayers. The attack occurred in the Khosa Goth area, where armed assailants opened fire as he exited the mosque attached to a madrassah. Soomro was in Sukkur at the time to attend a conference.

The case had remained unresolved for years, with the verdict marking a significant milestone in delivering justice.

Soomro, originally from Sindh’s Larkana region, was a respected political and religious figure. He also served as a JUI-F senator from 2006 to 2012. His assassination had sent shockwaves across the country, sparking protests and demands for accountability.

Today’s ruling brings closure to a long-standing legal battle and highlights ongoing efforts to address acts of violence and terrorism in the country.