PHC restores security of MPA facing threats

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday restored the security of Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Mohammad Iqbal Wazir.

A two-member PHC bench comprising Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Ijaz Sabi heard the writ petition of Mohammad Iqbal Wazir filed through Barrister Mudassir Aamir and Barrister Yasin Raza.

The bench ordered the provincial government to submit its reply about confiscating two bulletproof vehicles of the petitioner.The lawyers for the petitioner told the bench that Mohammad Iqbal Wazir was a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and had previously served as a provincial minister.

They said the MPA had developed differences with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and contested the 2024 general election as an independent candidate and emerged victorious. The lawyers said that since the MPA had parted ways with the ruling party, the provincial government suspended his security. The said that the MPA had lost a brother, a cousin and other relatives in attacks since 2018 and he was also on the hit-list of the terrorists and faced attacks in the past.

The lawyers said the MPA had purchased two bulletproof vehicles to prevent himself and family members from attacks, but the provincial government nominated him in fake cases and impounded the vehicles.

They requested the court to restore the security of the MPA and order the government to return his vehicles as he was facing threats.Additional Advocate General Nauman-ul-Haq Kakakhel told the court that the police had impounded the two vehicles in connection with the registration of two FIRs against the MPA. However, the police expressed ignorance about the withdrawal of the security from the lawmaker.