Court issues stay order on FIR against Achakzai during hearing of petition filed by PkMAP chief
A photograph of opposition leader and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) president Mahmood Khan Achakzai. SCREEN CAPTURE
The Balochistan High Court on Thursday stayed all legal proceedings related to a first information report (FIR) registered against opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai for alleged seditious remarks.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kamran Khan Malakhail and Justice Gul Hassan Tareen issued the stay order while hearing a petition filed by Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) president seeking dismissal of the case.
During the arguments, Chief Justice Malakhail raised questions about the legal course chosen by the petitioner. He noted that since Achakzai was an elected member of the National Assembly and enjoyed parliamentary immunity, the issue should have been raised in Parliament.
The Chief Justice also asked why the petitioner had not approached the relevant trial court before moving the high court.
In response, the veteran politician’s defense attorney presented detailed arguments outlining the political and legal merits of the petition, maintaining that the case lacked adequate legal basis.
The case against the opposition leader was initially registered following a complaint filed by a private individual. After hearing the defense’s opening arguments, the court issued formal notices to the state and ordered a complete cessation of any police or judicial action arising from the case until the next scheduled hearing.
