QUETTA: A judicial magistrate in Quetta issued arrest warrants for Pashtunkhawa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai in connection with an FIR registered at Gawalmandi police station here this year over charges of illegal occupation of government land.
Achakzai, who was recently nominated as the presidential candidate of the PTI, faced the scrutiny of the district administration on the issue of illegal occupation of government land. His residence was raided earlier in March this year, however, he was not present at the time.
The district administration said it reclaimed a land measuring 2.5 kanals encircled by a boundary wall, which was illegally occupied by the PKMAP chief.
It got registered a case against Achakzai under Sections 447 and 448 of the Pakistan Penal Code pertaining to criminal trespass.
Achakzai didn’t appear before the authorities and Subsequently, the judicial magistrate issued warrants for him.
The police have been directed to arrest Achakzai and present him before the court today (Saturday).
A day earlier, Achakzai presided a meeting of the six-party opposition alliance – the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain — in Islamabad.
The newly formed alliance of which he was elected head earlier this month includes his party, the PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami, Sunni Ittehad Council, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, and BNP-M.
Reacting to the issuance of arrest warrants, the PkMAP criticised the government and police for what it described as the rulers’ tactics to silence Achakzai. “The PkMAP will continue its democratic struggle despite all odds”, the statement issued by the party read.
The Quetta Bar Association has termed the issuance of the arrest warrants against Achakzai “political victimization”.
