PHC orders immediate reopening of roads amid PTI protest

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over road closures caused by protests of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and directed authorities to immediately reopen all blocked routes without delay.

Hearing a petition filed against the road blockages, a bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed ordered the provincial administration to initiate action at once and submit a compliance report to the court.

The Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed appeared before the bench. During proceedings, the Advocate General informed the court that parliamentarians had travelled to Islamabad to ensure implementation of a Supreme Court order.

The bench observed that Islamabad did not fall within its jurisdiction and instructed authorities to take action against those staging protests within the province.

When the IG sought two days’ time to address the situation, the court rejected the request, directing that action begin immediately instead of seeking further delay.

The judges remarked that it was unfortunate that the ruling party was causing hardship to its own people. Counsel for the petitioner informed the court that two individuals had died while en route due to road closures linked to the protests.

The bench stressed that under no circumstances should the motorway be blocked and directed that protests should not be allowed anywhere in Peshawar, noting that children were unable to leave their homes due to the disruptions.

Questioning the duration of the blockades, the court was told by the IG that protests were initially taking place at 16 points, which had been reduced to 10.

The bench further asked whether blocking roads constituted a violation of the law. The IG responded that matters relating to the motorway fall under the jurisdiction of motorway police and that action is taken once a formal reference is received from them.

The court directed authorities to ensure immediate restoration of traffic flow and maintain law and order in the provincial capital.