PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) expressed grave concern on Wednesday over deteriorating administrative performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During the proceedings, the court observed that “bad governance” has effectively paralyzed the provincial machinery.
Consequently, the bench emphasized the urgent need for a good governance roadmap to restore fundamental constitutional rights to the citizens.
A bench comprising Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Farah Jamshed heard the case. First, the court summoned the KP Advocate General and the Secretary of Planning and Development to appear in person. Additionally, the bench sought a comprehensive report from the chief secretary. This report must outline the province’s current good governance roadmap.
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Resource Mismanagement
The directives followed a writ petition filed by Muhammad Hamdan, advocate. According to the petitioner, the provincial administration has failed to perform its basic duties. Furthermore, he argued that the “indiscriminate and unjustified” use of government resources must be halted immediately.
In addition to financial concerns, the counsel highlighted the state’s constitutional obligations. He maintained that the government must provide a clean environment and employment. However, the lack of a structured good governance roadmap has led to the squandering of public funds. Therefore, he requested that these resources be diverted toward infrastructure and public welfare instead.
Development Projects
During the hearing, the bench was informed about the “Uraan Pakistan” program. This is a five-year socio-economic plan approved by the National Economic Council (NEC).
To ensure accountability, the court issued notices to the relevant authorities. Specifically, the bench directed the chief secretary to submit a report within 30 days. This report must detail how the good governance roadmap is being applied to achieve the program’s goals.
Judicial Oversight
Ultimately, the court observed that the government is bound to formulate policies that improve provincial infrastructure. The bench remarked that a clear disconnect exists between policy making and ground realities. As a result, judicial oversight is now necessary to protect the public interest.
The hearing was adjourned for one month. Meanwhile, the court awaits the detailed submission from the provincial bureaucracy regarding its good governance roadmap.
