MPA Achakzai remanded in traffic policeman's death case

Syed Ali Shah Published June 24, 2017

A judicial magistrate on Saturday remanded Balochistan legislator Majeed Khan Achakzai to police custody for five days.

A traffic sergeant, Haji Attaullah, was run over and killed near Quetta's GPO Chowk earlier this week when a vehicle allegedly belonging to the legislator ran him over.

The incident had come to light when footage of the legislator's vehicle ramming into the traffic officer began circulating on social media on Friday.

The legislator's vehicle had been speeding, police said.

Police had arrested Achakzai from his residence in the Satellite Town area of Quetta Friday night following a campaign on social media mounting pressure on the government to arrest him.

Police produced Achakzai, who belongs to the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), before a judicial magistrate on Saturday, who remanded the accused to police custody for five days.

Before he was remanded, Achakzai had confessed to his involvement in the accident and claimed to have agreed to compensate the family members of the slain traffic policeman, Deputy Inspector General of Police Razzaq Cheema said.

"The law will take its course if the legislator fails to convince the family," Cheema added.

Achakzai, an elected MPA for Balochistan from the PB-13 Killa Abdullah district, lashed out at "certain elements" who he claimed had declared him a criminal prior to a trial in court.

Pakistan

Syed Ali Shah is DawnNews' Quetta bureau chief.

He tweets @alishahjourno

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Muhammad

Jun 24, 2017 05:04pm

Thanks to Social Media otherwise such incidents were never reported or hushed away

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Farukh Khawaja

Jun 24, 2017 05:10pm

Question is was he driving the car?

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JKhan

Jun 24, 2017 05:17pm

This is why the corrupt and uneducated Politicians resent Social Media. It strips them in front of the whole Nation. This man the MPA must be punished and expelled by his Party and Assembly. You won't hear a word from Nawaz Sharif, the party head.

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Parvez

Jun 24, 2017 05:23pm

He should be punished for the intentional MURDER instead of calling it an ACCIDENT-there should be no jirga etc. He should be treated as a criminal and treated accordingly- these so called big guys think they can get away due to the power of their wealth. He should be imprisoned for killing the cop plus he should be fined heavily to compensate the family of the deseased.

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Secular Pathan

Jun 24, 2017 05:28pm

This is the reason some people hate social media

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Naheem

Jun 24, 2017 05:35pm

Paying the deceased family members in order not to get punishment should be abolished

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sajid

Jun 24, 2017 05:37pm

I AM 100% sure either he was in any kind of drug influence.or he did not care at all about a human life. He should be prosecuted in militry court

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sajjad khan

Jun 24, 2017 05:38pm

Thanks to Social Media otherwise this been going on for decades particularly in Baluchistan, interior Sindh and Punjab for decades. This corrupt, arrogant feudalistic Mind set needs to be defeated and time has come.

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Shdhsn

Jun 24, 2017 05:39pm

@JKhan read the article again, he is not from PMLN.

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Salmam

Jun 24, 2017 05:41pm

It's appears as a murder, not an accident.

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Anti-corruption

Jun 24, 2017 05:43pm

I am afraid he will "convince" the family to accept blood money and go scot free. Even if he pays blood money, he should face some punishment in form of jail term and disqualification from public office

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Sohaib

Jun 24, 2017 05:45pm

He deserves to be punished. My prays with the victim. Hope his sacrifice bring justice and goodness in country #JusticeForAll

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Khalid

Jun 24, 2017 05:54pm

He killed the poor policeman. The law should take its course, the accused should be punished. This attitude of giving money whenever you murder someone is making everyone with money a bit more daring.

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NACParis

Jun 24, 2017 05:58pm

The media is doing a great job. Seeing the footage on TV it looked like this MPA was not in his senses or under the influence of drink the way he came and hit the shaheed.. He should be locked in for long time and judiciary should ensure that he really under remand and has not been allowed home

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Imran shah

Jun 24, 2017 05:58pm

@Farukh Khawaja if he did not then why would he confessed ?

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Observer

Jun 24, 2017 05:59pm

Power of social media is contributing to social justice all over the world.

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khan

Jun 24, 2017 06:03pm

The incident falls in the category of "Hit and Run" ( If it is, what has been reported) which is non-bailable offence. Though according to the news media the accused has been arrested ( which I doubt, may be it is so called arrest) still it is a good sign that Law is equally applied. Public has the right to know the circumstances under which the Police Officer on duty was run down. If the officer has signal him to stop and Mr. Achakzai, instead of putting his foot on the break, he run down the officer. Then it is a more serious crime. One can hope that the matter is properly investigated. So far compensation is concerned, it can only be applied when the incident is proved to be an accident. Otherwise the accused, if proven guilty, must be punished.

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M. Siddique

Jun 24, 2017 06:04pm

@JKhan, Does this MPA belong to Nawaz Sharif's party?

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Syed Zafar Kazmi U.S.A

Jun 24, 2017 06:05pm

The main question and the first question is was he the driver? And that I don't see answered anywhere and if he was not the driver, his arrest is unjustified and oppressive.

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A shah

Jun 24, 2017 06:10pm

He is a politician so must be innocent.

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Abdulla Hussain

Jun 24, 2017 06:10pm

As long as out of court settlement continues, rich and influential will continue to benefit and the poor and powerless will continue to get humiliated.

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Ayub

Jun 24, 2017 06:13pm

Being influential and powerful is understood in Pakistan as we are above law.But in the presence of active social media it seem that these days are gone.The same is happening in Defence and Clifton area of Karachi by these reckless drivers.

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Haroon

Jun 24, 2017 06:18pm

So easy. Buy the family. And go free with a victory sign. Money talks.

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abdulrashid awan

Jun 24, 2017 06:24pm

family should not accept any compensation and this guy should be punish exemplary.

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Umair

Jun 24, 2017 06:28pm

In the history of Pakistan, rich and powerfuls have been keep running over the poor and weaks without any significant penalty. This time won't be any different, & this achakzai would probalby win the next election as well.

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Aqeel

Jun 24, 2017 06:36pm

@Farukh Khawaja even if he was, he wasnt. We all know how this works

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Ashraf Balkhi

Jun 24, 2017 06:36pm

He will come out clean-smile,such people know how to play with law. Let's wait and see. Regards.

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Jun 24, 2017 06:37pm

Same story. Poor police will take the money and pardon him and he will go free. This is not justice. Every rich man goes free. He should spent time in jail and compensate.I saw the video he never tried to miss him. He deliberately ran into him. Hopefully police will produce tire marks to show he never braked before hitting.

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Usman Ali

Jun 24, 2017 06:37pm

Why does it have to be a social media viral before our law enforcement agencies come into action?

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Zak

Jun 24, 2017 06:40pm

Jail him for life.

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Sohaila

Jun 24, 2017 06:44pm

It is an heinous crime. This person should not allowed to take refuge in sharia law.

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Sami ullah swati

Jun 24, 2017 07:00pm

A rich politician offering compensation even before being tried to know what the family of Atta Ullah would like. Shame that these feudal equates life with money for the poor. I hope he is dealt with stern hands of law and treated like a criminal given that driving over a cop in day light while overspending is a heinous crime.

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Rizwan

Jun 24, 2017 07:02pm

When brought to the Court, the MPA was not hand cuffed, further the FIR has been registered against unknown people to weaken the case. The body language of the MPA proved that he is not guilty of his act. Infact he was scolding the media guys infront of the camera. To cut it short nothing is gonna happen.

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Ali Khan Mangi

Jun 24, 2017 07:06pm

It's simple, isn't it? If he was driving the vehicle treat him as per the law. If he wasn't let him go. The rest would only be the manipulation of our fragile justice system..I wish this case didn't remind us of Salman Khan saga!

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Jee khan

Jun 24, 2017 07:12pm

Nothing will happen. The system is paralyzed. Such rich, corrupt savages form our government. Is this the Pakistan Allama Iqbal dreamt of.

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farooq shaikh

Jun 24, 2017 07:26pm

Remanded in police custody, bail on the way, out of court settlement will happen, all parties will be happy as per news papers but my dear traffic warden will not come back, his family will suffer, his kids will look for their father, but happy ending for the ruling elite.

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morefakenews

Jun 24, 2017 08:13pm

@Anti-corruption what other option is there when everyone else remains silent??

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Uza Syed

Jun 24, 2017 08:19pm

Good news! Now get PML-N MNA Shaikh Rohail Asghar also. He drove into hut of a poor labourer one night somewhere between Islamabad and Rawalpindi and the victim got killed. This criminal politician ran away from the crime scene and on identification first denied the incident and later presented his driver as culprit and responsible for this crime. Get this MNA of PML-N for hit and run, manslaughter and also obstruction of justice and forcing the poor driver to stand for this corrupt man. There must be a suo motto action but our Supreme Court and all such powerful criminals, law must be allowed to rake Its course and this Shaikh is brought to justice.

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Banaras Khan

Jun 24, 2017 08:21pm

No doubt about his criminal behaviour and VIP mindset. In the first place he should have had the moral courage to get down and evacuate the victim to the hospital rather than running from the scene like a coward.Now when he is caught he should face the law honourably rather than getting bailed out by his powerful uncles sitting in the Governor House and the Parliament.

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JKhan

Jun 24, 2017 08:28pm

@Shdhsn he is an Achackzai which implies he is PML N employee like his leader of that House. Mahmood is also an Achackzai if you're so sensitive about noon League. His brother is another employee as Governor of the Province.

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Vikas Rehman

Jun 24, 2017 08:29pm

So what is a traffic warden's life worth in Pakistan today? Social media is doing much good in Pakistan (not forgetting its negative side) but unless the common pakistani man stands up to such injustice and does something about it, their worth will be measured in rupees.

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JKhan

Jun 24, 2017 08:29pm

@M. Siddique please see my reply to a comment above.

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JKhan

Jun 24, 2017 08:31pm

@Usman Ali, JIT has already expressed similar doubt.

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Jun 24, 2017 08:44pm

This man has taken a life of an innocent and it is trial case for our courts. Lets see if things have changed at all and will he be taken down like that poor man.

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zaman

Jun 24, 2017 08:58pm

"The law will take its course if the legislator fails to convince the family," Cheema added. Seriously.......

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Daanish

Jun 24, 2017 09:01pm

what to compensate family, stop this nonsense so that rich and powerful get unpunished. Revoke his MPA status, disqualify him for life. Otherwise Pakistan is a failed state, no doubt.

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Hakim

Jun 24, 2017 09:06pm

Hit and run? The good side of social media

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IBN E ASHFAQUE

Jun 24, 2017 09:07pm

Nothing will happen to this person. He made a woman widow and many children Yateem. What is the life of an ordinary person in Pakistan? He can be decimated like a cockroach and no consequences for his MURDERER.

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Nasr

Jun 24, 2017 09:18pm

That video I saw was blatantly gruesome

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RABIA Shoaib

Jun 24, 2017 09:21pm

You kill a man in broad daylight and you are furious that people are calling you a criminal. You have some audacity! and people are wrong, you are not a criminal, you are a killer. Now your goons will coax the poor guy's family to forgive you and you will be out soon to do the same to some other poor fellow.

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Adil Jadoon

Jun 24, 2017 09:23pm

Criminal prior to court???? He confessed, did he not! He should be jailed for driving recklessly as well. If the policeman had run him over, i am sure his family would not forget the police man??? Where oh s the justice in that!

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Nasir - UK

Jun 24, 2017 09:24pm

@Naheem: Not only that he should be punished severely he must pay the family so that they may lead a normal,life without going through hardship of life to come

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Zubair

Jun 24, 2017 09:30pm

Dont fool yourself to expect any justice...just check what happened to all those similar cases in recent past..

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Farooq Ahmad

Jun 24, 2017 09:44pm

This is an act of terrorism. He should be tried in military court and given nothing other than capital punishment.

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Jaffer

Jun 24, 2017 09:45pm

@Syed Zafar Kazmi U.S.A It doesn't matter, assume he was a driver, he will never accept it, and present scapegoat driver...

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Javed

Jun 24, 2017 09:46pm

@Farukh Khawaja Answer is: he admitted to it himself. Satisfied.

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Javed

Jun 24, 2017 09:47pm

The incident had come to light when footage of the legislator's vehicle ramming into the traffic officer began circulating on social media on Friday. Otherwise it would have been hushed up under the carpet.

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Riz

Jun 24, 2017 09:59pm

I saw the video is this for real how some one can do that what exuse you have after this

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Atif Aman

Jun 24, 2017 10:08pm

Good Show, No one is beyond the law. Everyone is accountable before the law. This case should be taken as an example to avoid such incidents in the future.

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Saifi

Jun 24, 2017 10:09pm

@Farukh Khawaja he confessed

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Walk away

Jun 24, 2017 10:34pm

Mark my word sooner or later he will walk away free!

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Parvez

Jun 24, 2017 10:43pm

Now watch all the politicians get together....to protect one of their own.

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Mian Ahmad

Jun 24, 2017 10:49pm

In such brutal killing, the accused should be tried for murder and there should be no compromise. The DIG should be aware that some day he will be for sure run over by arrogant feudal. The government should properly compensate the vicitim's family.

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W Shaikh

Jun 24, 2017 10:53pm

We should not comment on any issue without knowing the facts. However; it is important to note that social media has become very important part of lives.

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Jun 24, 2017 10:58pm

Thanks Dawn newspaper otherwise he could have not been arrested.

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Ali

Jun 24, 2017 11:10pm

Don't know why the city have deployed CCTV cameras if they were not used for their intended purpose? The city should have gotten on top of this incident before Social Media did.

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Waseem

Jun 24, 2017 11:10pm

Did his party leader issue any statement?

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Iqbal

Jun 24, 2017 11:23pm

@JKhan this not nawaz s party . He belonged to achakzi pkmap

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Shahjee

Jun 25, 2017 12:11am

He has committed a heinous crime.he killed the man who was there to protect people from such like incidents and keep peace.

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taha

Jun 25, 2017 12:13am

At the end of it all only God will do justice and his justice is final. This man had a family and the loss they must feel must make angles cry. At least this MPA had the courage to admit his guilt.

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Muhammad

Jun 25, 2017 01:16am

I don't understand the settlement of what he killed a guy and Law follow the punishment. it has nothing to do with victim family. if Law wants people to settle their dispute by them self then why we have the law. Powerful people get away from these things and poor people stuck in the name of Justice.

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