Witnesses did not confirm Achakzai drove the car that killed traffic warden, says court

QUETTA: None of the 20 witnesses in the traffic warden murder case involving former MPA Abdul Majeed Achakzai confirmed that he drove the car that ran over and killed the warden, said a model court.

The court issued its detailed verdict regarding the case on Monday, stating that the former MPA was acquitted as the prosecution could not bring forth evidence enough to convict him.

The verdict stated that witnesses accused police of pressurising them into nominating Achakzai in the case for the traffic warden's murder. In light of this development, the court said that it declared the witnesses' statements inadmissible.

Achakzai was arrested days after as he allegedly hit and ran over traffic warden Haji Attaullah at Quetta's GPO Chowk on June 20, 2017. The warden suffered serious injuries and later died at a hospital.

The court stated that none of the 20 witnesses, produced by the prosecution, confirmed that the former MPA was involved in the alleged murder.

Read more: MPA's vehicle runs over traffic cop in Quetta

During his 14-day remand, an identity parade was not conducted against Achakzai, the detailed verdict said, adding that there wasn't enough ground to convict him.

After the court acquitted the former MPA, Quetta police decided to file an appeal against the decision at the Balochistan High Court.

Read more: Photo shows MPA Achakzai driving vehicle which fatally ran over Quetta policeman

The Balochistan police had initially launched an FIR but after the CCTV footage of the accident went viral on social media and was repeatedly shown by TV channels, it decided to lodge a murder case against the former MPA.

However, he was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) six months later and has been out of jail since then.

Read more: Policeman killing case: MPA Abdul Majeed Achakzai released on bail amid cheers

On Friday, Achakzai appeared before the court as the judge announced the verdict.

After his arrest, terrorism charges were included in the first information report (FIR) lodged against the former lawmaker.

However, a court in Quetta had ordered the removal of the terrorism charges on his appeal and the case was transferred to a model court.