Akhtar Jan Mengal v. Government of Pakistan,
YLR 2010 1044 · Balochistan High Court
This case concerns Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal, whose arms licenses issued by both the Federal and Balochistan governments were cancelled in 2006. The Ministry of Interior's order accused him of involvement in abducting and manhandling law enforcement personnel, and stated that all his arms licenses were cancelled for "gross violation of law." Following this, the Balochistan government also cancelled his provincial licenses.
Mengal challenged these cancellations before the Balochistan High Court, arguing he was never given a chance to respond before his licenses were revoked, that no proper reasons were given, and that the officials who issued the orders lacked authority to do so.
The government argued the petition should be dismissed because an appeal process existed under the law, and that the cancellations were justified due to Mengal's alleged criminal involvement.
The High Court ruled in Mengal's favor. It found that under the West Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965, a license can only be cancelled after giving the holder an opportunity to show cause. Since no notice or hearing was provided, the cancellation violated natural justice. The court also noted the orders were vague, failed to specify which licenses were affected, and did not establish that the issuing officer had proper authority. Although an appeal option technically existed, the court held that since the orders were issued without lawful authority, the petition was still valid. All cancelled licenses were restored.
This case reinforces that government authorities must follow fair procedure and cite proper legal authority before taking away citizens' rights, even in matters involving
یہ معاملہ سردار اختر جان مینگل سے متعلق ہے، جن کے وفاقی اور بلوچستان دونوں حکومتوں کی جانب سے جاری کردہ اسلحہ لائسنس 2006 میں منسوخ کر دیے گئے تھے۔ وزارت داخلہ کے حکم میں ان پر قانون نافذ کرنے والے اہلکاروں کو اغوا کرنے اور ان کے ساتھ بدسلوکی میں ملوث ہونے کا الزام لگایا گیا تھا، اور کہا گیا تھا کہ ان کے تمام اسلحہ لائسنس "قانون کی سنگین خلاف ورزی" کی بنیاد پر منسوخ کیے جا رہے ہیں۔ اس کے بعد بلوچستان حکومت نے بھی ان کے صوبائی لائسنس منسوخ کر دیے۔
مینگل نے ان منسوخیوں کو بلوچستان ہائی کورٹ میں چیلنج کیا اور دلیل دی کہ لائسنس منسوخ کرنے سے پہلے انہیں جواب دینے کا کوئی موقع نہیں دیا گیا، کوئی مناسب وجوہات نہیں بتائی گئیں، اور جن افسران نے یہ احکامات جاری کیے وہ اس کا اختیار ہی نہیں رکھتے تھے۔
حکومت کی جانب سے دلیل دی گئی کہ درخواست خارج کر دی جانی چاہیے کیونکہ قانون کے تح