Achakzai moves Balochistan High Court against Chaman FIR

QUETTA: National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai has approached the Balochistan High Court to challenge the registration of a case against him in Chaman over his recent speech, while saying the country’s problems are political in nature.

Achakzai, who heads the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, spoke to journalists and lawyers at the high court on Wednesday after filing the petition. He said the country needed the establishment of a genuine democratic order for national development.

Referring to the broader political situation, Achakzai said repeated intervention in the electoral process had undermined democratic institutions. He said those who supported constitutional supremacy and democratic values were often criticised, and stressed the need for a system founded on real public representation.

He said Pakistan needed a genuinely elected parliament so that major national decisions, especially on domestic and foreign policy, could be taken independently in the wider interest of the state and the public. Achakzai said the constitution had emerged from a long political struggle and national consensus, and maintained that ending recurring interference in elections was necessary to strengthen democracy and civilian institutions.

Speaking on the need for institutional reform, he said the country would not be able to get out of repeated crises without a transparent system and independent policy-making.

“The establishment of a true democratic society is essential for national progress. We will not overcome recurring crises un­­less we establish a transparent mechanism and en­­sure independent policy-making,” he addded.

On the case filed against him, Achakzai said the first information report had been lodged at Chaman City Police Station on the complaint of a man identified as Wali Achakzai over what was described as an allegedly controversial speech. He argued that the FIR did not meet constitutional and legal requirements and should therefore be declared void.

The petition before the Balochistan High Court seeks to have the case set aside on those grounds.