The arrest warrant for Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), has been temporarily suspended in Quetta. This decision came after the investigating officer informed the court of Achakzai’s failure to comply with the warrant issued by the Judicial Magistrate.
The warrant was initially issued due to a case registered against Achakzai on March 11 for alleged interference with official property. However, the warrant suspension will hold until the next hearing scheduled for May 31.
This legal saga began when the Quetta administration raided Achakzai’s residence on March 3, aiming to reclaim government-owned land allegedly occupied by him. The PMAP strongly condemned the raid, viewing it as retaliation for Achakzai’s recent speech in the National Assembly.
The Deputy Commissioner of Quetta, Saad Asad, defended the raid, asserting that it aimed to recover illegally occupied land near Achakzai’s residence. Asad claimed that the reclaimed land, measuring 2.5 kanals, was enclosed by four walls and unlawfully occupied by Achakzai. A committee was formed to identify such encroachments on government land, leading to the collaborative raid by the local administration, police, and revenue department.
Several public and private properties were identified by the committee as illegally occupied, prompting action by the authorities. Despite this, the raid drew criticism from Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto, who deemed it controversial and urged action against it during an assembly session.
The legal and political ramifications of this situation continue to unfold, impacting not only Achakzai but also the broader discourse surrounding governance and land ownership in the region.
