Judge Muhammad Mandokhail of a local model court in Quetta acquitted the former chairman of the provincial Public Accounts Committee Achakzai due to lack of evidence. The court’s detailed judgement has not been issued as yet.
Achakzai was arrested days after a fast-moving vehicle belonging to him hit and ran over traffic warden Haji Attaullah at Quetta’s GPO Chowk in June 2017. The warden suffered serious injuries and later died at hospital.
Anti-terrorism court had granted bail before Achakzai acquitted
Initially, police registered a case of accident against unidentified persons. But after the CCTV footage of the accident went viral on social media and was repeatedly shown by TV channels, Balochistan police decided to lodge a manslaughter case against the former MPA, who belongs to the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.
Read more: Pakistani survivor files case against RSS Terrorists responsible for Samjhauta Express Blast
However, he was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) six months later and had been out of jail since then.On Friday, Achakzai appeared before the court as the judge announced the verdict.
Read more: “Balochistan is the future of Pakistan,” COAS Gen. Qamar Bajwa
After his arrest, terrorism charges were included in the first information report (FIR) lodged against the former lawmaker.
Details of courts judgement have not yet been issued
However, a court in Quetta had ordered the removal of the terrorism charges on his appeal and the case was transferred to a model court.
Read more: 10th NFC Award: Will Javed Jabbar get Balochistan its due share?
Following the tragic incident in Quetta, Achakzai had appeared on some TV channels and attempted to provide some justifications. He had admitted to driving the vehicle when the accident took place and also expressed his desire to settle the issue with the victim’s family as per tribal traditions.
GVS News Desk with additional input by other sources