The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Wednesday rejected the bail application of Public Accounts Committee Chairman Majeed Khan Achakzai in a case pertaining to the death of a traffic policeman who was allegedly run over by the lawmaker's car.

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

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

The lawmaker was taken into police custody after a campaign on social media mounted pressure on the government to arrest him.

Earlier, when Achakzai was remanded into policy custody, he confessed to his involvement in the accident and claimed to have agreed to compensate the family members of the slain traffic policeman, police said.

A two-judge bench hearing the case today appeared to be divided on the matter of Achakzai's bail application.

The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) MPA was granted bail by Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakar, whereas Chief Justice Balochistan Noor Muhammad Muskanzai rejected his application.

The bench then referred the case to Justice Ejaz Swati who was declared a referee judge. Swati subsequently rejected the MPA's application for bail.

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

Opinion

Editorial

Impending slaughter
Updated 07 May, 2024

Impending slaughter

Seven months into the slaughter, there are no signs of hope.
Wheat investigation
07 May, 2024

Wheat investigation

THE Shehbaz Sharif government is in a sort of Catch-22 situation regarding the alleged wheat import scandal. It is...
Naila’s feat
07 May, 2024

Naila’s feat

IN an inspirational message from the base camp of Nepal’s Mount Makalu, Pakistani mountaineer Naila Kiani stressed...
Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
Updated 06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

If the judiciary had the power to self-regulate, it ought to have exercised it instead of involving the legislature.