An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday granted bail to Balochistan MPA Majeed Khan Achakzai in the case concerning the killing of a traffic sergeant in Quetta last June in a traffic incident, court authorities said.

After Achakzai was produced before the court amidst tight security, ATC judge Dawood Khan Nasar ordered the defendant's counsel to submit a Rs500,000 surety bond to secure their client's release — a requirement that was immediately met.

"My client is likely to be released by tomorrow," Achakzai's attorney Noor Jahan Buledi later told DawnNews.

Achakzai is the main accused in the death of traffic sergeant Haji Attaullah, who was run over by the legislator's speeding vehicle in the GPO Chowk area of Quetta earlier this year.

Local police had, however, initially registered a case against 'unknown individuals' — but after a widely-circulated video of the incident identified the vehicle as belonging to Achakzai, law enforcement agencies moved promptly to arrest him.

The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party politician was produced in front of a judicial magistrate a week after the incident, after which he was remanded to police custody.

Prior to his remand, however, Achakzai had 'confessed' to his involvement in the accident and claimed to have agreed to compensate the family members of the slain traffic policeman.

The bail secured is the second relief Achakzai has received in a span of a week, as days ago he was acquitted in a vehicle tampering case related to the same incident.

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...