Bijaranis pay compensation to heirs of slain journalist
SUKKUR- The heirs of a murdered journalist were compensated by the father of the accused in a well-attended Jirga on January 28, 2003 at Kandhkot in Jacobabad District.
Journalist Shahid Soomro, father of five children, was gunned down outside his house in October last. His brother Aziz Soomro had nominated Wahid Ali, son of Sardar Sher Muhammad Khan Bijarani, chieftain of the Bijarani tribe and others. The case is pending before the court.
Several influential persons of the area had approached Shahid’s brothers and heirs for a settlement in a Jirga rather than in court. The Jirga was presided over by Sardar Sunder Khan Sundrani and was attended by Illahi Bux Soomro, former speaker of the National Assembly, journalists from Hyderabad, Sukkur and Kandhkot and other notables. Sardar Sher Muhammad Khan Bijarani, father of the accused and Mehran Khan Bijarani, former Member National Assembly (MNA), also attended the Jirga. Sardar Sunder Khan Sundrani who was “Ameen” of the Jirga announced the compensation of Rs 1.65 million as a total compensation to the widow and children of slain Shahid. The compensation amount included Rs 550,000 as a special compensation for the killing of journalist.
Representative of Sindh Journalists Organisation were also present and it was announced on the occasion that the amount received by the heirs of Shahid would be kept in a fixed deposit account in the name of the widow of Shahid.
According to the verdict, Rs 800,000 were instantly paid to the heirs. Illahi Bux Soomro received the money on behalf of the heirs while the remaining amount shall be paid by Feb 10. Disputes, including murders, are usually settled in privately organised Jirgas in various parts of the Sukkur region.
Source: The News
Date:1/29/2003
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