Qaseem Shah:
Quetta: The Balochistan High Court has suspended the provincial cabinet’s decision to grant Magistrate First Class powers to Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs), and Assistant Commissioners (ACs).
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Rozi Khan Bareech and Justice Sardar Ahmad Halimi issued the order while hearing a constitutional petition filed by Iftikhar Ahmed Lango.
The petitioner argued that delegating judicial powers to executive officers was unconstitutional and a violation of the law. The court observed that the provincial cabinet had no legal authority to give such powers and declared the move illegal from the beginning.
The High Court also issued notices to the Balochistan government, Advocate General, and other respondents, directing them to submit their replies.
Implementation of the provincial cabinet’s September 24, 2025 decision has been suspended until further hearing.
