Syed Kaleem Shah:
QUETTA – A district and sessions court in Quetta has sentenced the main accused, Wali Khan, to two counts of death penalty and his brother Saddam to one count of death penalty, for their involvement in the brutal killing of seven people including women, and injuring two others in Quetta’s Nawankilli area. The verdict was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge III, Muhammad Ashraf Khan Bazai.
The court also ordered the convicts to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to each of the victims’ families, with an additional six months in prison if they fail to pay.
Key Rulings in the Case:
- Death Sentences:
Wali Khan received two death sentences under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, while his brother Saddam was given one death sentence for their roles in the targeted killings inside a residential home. - Life Imprisonment:
Co-accused Sultan and Gulab Shah were sentenced to two counts of life imprisonment each, and Saddam received an additional life sentence. All were ordered to pay Rs. 400,000 each to the families of the victims. - Attempted Murder:
In connection with the injuries caused to victims Parmeena and Rafi, the court handed seven years imprisonment each to Wali Khan, Saddam, Sultan, and Gulab Shah. They were also ordered to pay Rs. 100,000 each in compensation to the injured victims. - Illegal Assembly and Violence:
The accused were sentenced to two years in prison each under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting and unlawful assembly. - Recovery of Murder Weapon:
In a separate case (FIR No. 102/2022), Wali Khan was sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rs. 5,000 for possession of the murder weapon (a pistol). Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional two months imprisonment.
Background of the Case:
According to the police, Wali Khan, Saddam, Sultan, Gulab Shah, and fugitive suspect Zafrān forcibly entered a house in Nawankilli’s Pashtunabad area in 2022 and opened fire, killing Muhammad Rafiq, his wife Bibi Hani, and daughter Bibi Amna. Two sons of Rafiq—Parmeena and Rafi—were seriously injured. The suspects fled the scene, but four of them were later arrested and charged under FIR No. 80/2022.
In a related case (FIR No. 81/2022), Wali Khan was also found guilty of killing Kamran and Bibi Halima, for which he received an additional death sentence. Saddam, Sultan, and Gulab Shah were each sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay Rs. 400,000 compensation to each victim’s family.
Prosecution and Status of the Fugitive:
The prosecution was led by Haroon Mehmood Khan Tareen on behalf of the state. The court has ordered that proceedings against fugitive suspect Zafrān be kept on hold until his arrest.
This landmark ruling is being seen as a strong step by the judiciary in delivering justice in one of Quetta’s most horrifying family massacre cases, bringing some relief to the affected families and sending a message about the rule of law in Balochistan.
