Peshawar High Court Orders Immediate Action Over PTI Protest Road Blockades

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the closure of roads due to protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and ordered authorities to immediately initiate action and ensure that all roads are reopened without delay.

The hearing was conducted by Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed on a petition filed against the road blockades caused by the PTI protest. The Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Inspector General (IG) of Police appeared before the court.

During the proceedings, the Advocate General informed the bench that parliamentarians had gone to Islamabad to ensure implementation of a Supreme Court order. However, the court remarked that Islamabad was not within its jurisdiction and directed authorities to proceed against those responsible for the protests.

IG Zulfiqar Hameed requested two days’ time from the court, but the bench ordered that action must begin immediately. The court observed that it was unfortunate that the ruling party was causing inconvenience to its own people.

The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that two individuals had died on the way due to road closures during the protests. The bench noted that the deceased might not be important to those responsible, but stressed that under no circumstances should the motorway be blocked. The court also directed that no protests should be allowed at any location in Peshawar and highlighted that road closures were preventing children from leaving their homes.

The court questioned the IG about how long the roads had remained closed. The IG responded that protests initially occurred at 16 points, which were later reduced to 10. The bench asked whether blocking roads constituted a violation of the law.

The IG stated that certain areas fell under the jurisdiction of motorway police and action could only be taken upon receiving formal communication from them. The court remarked that no one could leave Peshawar due to the closures and referred to rising law and order incidents across the province, asking how many individuals had been proceeded against so far.

Justice Ijaz Anwar observed that when one road is blocked, the entire city of Peshawar comes to a standstill and noted the absence of traffic personnel at many locations. The IG mentioned that the Safe City project was in its final stages, but the court remarked that there was no effective traffic management system across the province.

Addressing the Chief Secretary, the court asked what action had been taken so far, stating that authorities often detain individuals under Section 3 MPO when needed. The bench emphasized that people across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were facing hardship and that deteriorating law and order remained a serious concern.

The court ultimately ordered that all roads be reopened immediately and directed authorities to submit a compliance report by the next day.

Later, speaking to Dunya News, the IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police said that the roads would be reopened in compliance with the court’s order and that legal action would be taken against those responsible for blocking them. He added that regardless of affiliation, action would be taken against anyone involved in road closures and acknowledged that law and order remained a challenge, which the police were striving to address.