‘Preferential treatment’ for MPA accused of killing cop

Majeed Achakzai reportedly provided an air cooler; CJP takes suo motu notice

QUETTA/ ISLAMABAD: Police and jail officials are providing ‘extraordinary favours’ to Majeed Achakzai – the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) MPA charged with manslaughter for running over a traffic warden in Quetta – it emerged on Wednesday as the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) took suo motu notice of the incident.

Achakzai allegedly ran over the warden after the latter ordered him to stop at GPO Chowk, which lies in the maximum security area of Balochistan’s capital, on June 20. What was at first thought to be an accident was later suspected to be a deliberate act on the MPA’s part once CCTV footage of the incident emerged. There were also reports that Achakzai was drunk and driving recklessly when the officer signaled him to pull over.

The police initially registered a ‘traffic accident’ case but were compelled to up the charge to ‘manslaughter’ after the footage – which showed Achakzai exchanging harsh words with the warden and then running him over – went viral on social media and prompted protests by the Balochistan press. The lawmaker was subsequently arrested.



According to sources, however, police and jail officials have been meting out preferential treatment to Achakzai, providing him several amenities other criminal suspects can only dream of. Sources said the MPA has been provided an air cooler and workers of his party have been allowed to snap photographs and selfies with him to later post on social media.

Media reports, meanwhile, claimed that the Balochistan governor’s office had been misused to ensure Achakzai was only charged with committing an accident rather than manslaughter. Reports also suggested that the slain warden’s family had been offered a bribe to ‘forgive’ the MPA.



CJP takes notice

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday took suo motu notice of the traffic warden’s killing, ordering the Balochistan police chief to submit a report on the incident within three days and ensure the slain officer’s family is not pressured or threatened during investigation.