Centre to challenge acquittal of former BA MPA Achakzai

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has decided to challenge the model court’s order to acquit Balochistan Assembly former legislator Abdul Majeed Achakzai in traffic policeman’s murder case for lack of evidence.

Sources in the federal government revealed to The Express Tribune that a copy of the order was yet to be received.

However, it is expected that the copy will be received by Monday (today).

It is learnt that the federal government would ask Balochistan prosecutor general to move appeal against the acquittal in Balochistan High Court soon.

Meanwhile, a member of the federal cabinet also expressed concern over the high rate of acquittals in criminal cases.

He believed that Prime Minister Imran Khan would be upset over the exoneration and stressed that both the judiciary and executive should review as to why the acquittal rate in murder cases was high.

Judge Dost Muhammad Mandokhel of the Quetta model court on Friday, acquitted Achakzai, a former Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party lawmaker, in the absence of substantial evidence.

Traffic sergeant Ataullah was killed when a fast-moving vehicle hit him at GPO Chowk in June 2017.

The former lawmaker was returning from the Balochistan Assembly after attending a session when the vehicle hit the traffic policeman, who was performing his duty at the place.

Later, police registered a case against the member of the Balochistan Assembly when CCTV footage of the fatal incident went viral.

He was arrested on June 25, 2017 from his residence on charges of murder, attempted murder and terrorism.

The Civil Lines police submitted a challan to an anti-terrorism court, but the case was later shifted to the model court when the terrorism charge was withdrawn for want of evidence.

The case remained under trial before the model court for three years.