May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

QUETTA, May 21: The Balochistan High Court has exonerated Sardar Akhtar Mengal and Habib Jalib Baloch, leaders of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), from treason charges.

Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai accepted submissions of the petitioners to quash their names from the FIRs registered by various police stations in the city.

The Civil Lines police and Sadar Police had registered FIRs against Sardar Mengal, Mr Jalib and others on the charges of inciting people against the state after the namaz-i-janaza of Nawab Akbar Bugti on August 29, 2006.

The Gwalmandi police had registered an FIR against Sardar Mengal and others for allegedly delivering objectionable speeches against the government at a function in the Science College on July 13, 2002.

In another case, a division bench issued notices to the advocate-general, deputy attorney-general and deputy prosecutor-general of the NAB on a petition filed by city nazim.