On 05 October 2026 the Balochistan High Court delivered its final judgment in Constitutional Petition No. 1442 of 2026 — Muhammad Ali versus the Director of Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment, Balochistan, Quetta, and others — decided by Hon'ble Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kasi. Petitions against the Anti-Corruption Establishment almost always concern inquiries or investigations against public servants: the petitioner typically alleges that an inquiry was opened mala fide, or seeks protection against arrest and harassment during investigation.
The ACE wields real power — it can summon officials, seize records, and recommend criminal proceedings — which is precisely why the High Court keeps a supervisory eye on it through Article 199. The settled law draws a line: courts will not shut down a bona fide inquiry at its inception, but they will intervene where the inquiry is shown to be motivated by mala fide, launched without jurisdiction, or used as a tool of harassment.
Final judgments in this category usually answer one of three questions. Was the inquiry initiated by the competent authority and within the applicable rules? Is there at least some material justifying the inquiry, or is it a fishing expedition? And has the petitioner been denied a fair opportunity — for example, arrest before completion of inquiry in violation of the governing regime?
For public servants facing ACE proceedings, the practical advice is consistent: cooperate with lawful process, document every interaction, and approach the High Court early if the inquiry looks like victimisation rather than accountability. The operative outcome of this judgment has not yet been verified from the certified order text; this entry records the case metadata and will be updated with the court's actual directions.