Baldev Kumar, five others acquitted in Sardar Soran Singh’s murder case

–ATC judge says prosecution failed to provide ‘solid evidence’ against PTI’s MPA-elect

PESHAWAR: Baldev Kumar, MPA-elect on a seat reserved for non-Muslims, along with five others charged in the murder case of former adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, Sardar Soran Singh was acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in Buner on Thursday.

ATC Judge Jamalud Din, on the completion of a prolonged hearing of the case, announced the acquittal of all six accused due to lack of evidence. In the short verdict, the judge stated that the prosecution had failed to provide solid evidence against the accused. The victim was represented in the court by Advocate Faisal Muneer.

Singh was shot dead at his residence at Pir Baba (Pacha Keley), Buner two years ago in April 2016. Baldev along with five others were charged with killing him through hired assassins. The accused included the alleged assassins, Alam Khan and Behroz Khan.

Amar Nath, brother of Buldev Kumar, when contacted by this correspondent has confirmed the acquittal of all six accused on the grounds of improper evidence. However, he avoided comments regarding his family’s point of view on the verdict.

Ajay Soran Singh, son of Sardar Soran Singh, when contacted said, “We are dissatisfied with the verdict but due to lacking resources, it is impossible for us to challenge it in the superior courts.”

He added that it is astonishing that all of the accused have made confessional statements before the police and courts.

Elected on a reserved seat for non-Muslim minorities on a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket in the 2013 general election, Sardar Soran Singh was counted amongst the most active, diehard and loyal parliamentarians. He was appointed in the provincial cabinet as an adviser to the CM on the same grounds. He was mysteriously shot dead by unknown persons in his residence at village Pacha Keley (Pir Baba), Buner in April 2016.

Later, the police unearthed a gang involved in murdering Singh. According to the prosecution, Baldev Kumar had hatched a plan of murdering Sardar Soran Singh by hiring assassins so that he could replace him in the provincial assembly. Baldev was the runner-up for the minority seat on PTI’s list.

Although soon after Singh’s murder, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notified Baldev as an MPA-elect of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, he wasn’t allowed by the ruling PTI and other opposition parties to take oath of his office.

Additionally, he was even produced in the house several times before the 2018 Senate elections but was attacked by fellow MPAs associated with the ruling PTI.