Balochistan High Court overturns the former provincial lawmaker’s 2020 acquittal and orders 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in the 2017 death case.
QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court has sentenced former provincial lawmaker Abdul Majeed Khan Achakzai to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in the 2017 death case of traffic police officer Haji Ataullah, overturning his acquittal by a trial court in 2020.
A division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Amir Nawaz Rana and Justice Abdul Qayyum Lehri announced the verdict on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, while hearing an appeal against Achakzai’s acquittal.
The high court accepted the provincial government’s appeal and set aside the Sept. 4, 2020, decision of the Additional Sessions Judge-VI and Model Criminal Trial Court-II in Quetta.
Achakzai was convicted under Section 320 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which deals with causing death through rash or negligent driving.
The court sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and ordered him to pay diyat (blood money) to the legal heirs of the deceased traffic officer. It also directed the Additional Sessions Judge-VI in Quetta to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for Achakzai to ensure his immediate arrest and transfer to prison.
Details of the 2017 Incident
The case dates back to June 20, 2017, when Traffic Sub-Inspector Haji Ataullah was performing his duties at GPO Chowk on Zarghoon Road in Quetta.
A speeding vehicle struck the traffic officer, causing serious injuries. He was subsequently taken to hospital, where he died.
At the time, Achakzai was returning from the Balochistan Assembly after attending a session.
Police initially registered an accident case against unidentified individuals. However, after CCTV footage of the incident emerged and circulated widely on social media and television channels, police registered a case against the former lawmaker.
The incident attracted considerable public attention because the victim was a traffic officer performing his official duties.
Trial Court Had Acquitted Achakzai in 2020
After the initial proceedings, Achakzai was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court. The case subsequently proceeded before a trial court in Quetta.
On Sept. 4, 2020, the Model Criminal Trial Court acquitted him, prompting the provincial government to challenge the decision before the Balochistan High Court.
The high court has now overturned that acquittal and convicted Achakzai, bringing a significant development in the case that remained in the judicial system for nearly nine years.
The latest verdict also directs authorities to implement the arrest warrants and ensure that the sentence is carried out in accordance with the law.
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