Late on Sunday night, police conducted a raid on the residence of Mahmood Achakzai, Chairman of the Paskhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) in Quetta. This event occurred just days before the upcoming presidential election, in which Achakzai is a candidate.
Videos circulating on social media depicted a procession of vehicles entering Achakzai’s street during the night.
Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, the Secretary General of PkMAP, stated that the raid was executed without a warrant or the presence of a magistrate.
Ziaratwal criticized the raid as a form of pressure tactic, suggesting that it was carried out in response to Achakzai’s exposure of electoral rigging.
In response, the party has announced plans for protests at 3 pm on Monday.
As of now, Achakzai has not issued a statement regarding the raid.
Various political figures have voiced their condemnation of the raid on Achakzai’s residence, expressing their dismay. Sardar Akhtar Mengal, for instance, strongly condemned the incident, interpreting it as an indication of intolerance towards truth.
In his words, “Outraged by the raid on Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s residence. Zero tolerance for truth is loud and clear. Strongly condemn.”
Meanwhile, the Sunni Ittehad Council has decided to nominate Mehmood Khan Achakzai, President of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, as their candidate for the upcoming presidential elections in Pakistan.
Achakzai, a prominent political figure known for his advocacy for Pashtun rights and his anti-establishment stance, is expected to be formally announced as the council’s nominee, according to insider sources. The nomination reflects the council’s commitment to presenting a candidate aligned with their values and aspirations.
Sources indicate that Achakzai’s nomination papers will be submitted before the noon deadline for the presidential election. This development comes as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), having allied with the Sunni Ittehad Council after the withdrawal of its party symbol, considers its strategy for the presidential elections.
While earlier reports suggested the PTI was contemplating fielding its candidate, the focus has shifted toward exploring options from Sindh or Balochistan, ruling out candidates from Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
