PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) has been moved against the worsening security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s southern districts, where residents say they feel abandoned amid rising militant activity.
Advocate Sajjad Mehsud filed the petition, arguing that the government has failed in its constitutional duty to protect its people.
The petition highlights how lawlessness has taken hold in these districts, with daily reports of targeted attacks, kidnappings, and growing insecurity. “Every day, we wake up to news of another attack, another abduction,” the petition states. It accuses the authorities of neglect, claiming that even police stations shut down at night due to fear, leaving the public defenseless.
The plea details recent incidents where judicial officers, lawyers, and customs officials have been kidnapped, further eroding public trust in the state’s ability to maintain order. “The government has left the region at the mercy of militants,” the petition alleges, warning that if the situation continues unchecked, these areas could become completely ungovernable.
The petitioner also claims that the federal and provincial governments have failed to take concrete steps to improve security. “Ensuring the safety of citizens is the primary responsibility of the government, yet the people of southern KP have been abandoned,” the petition argues.
Holding key officials accountable, the plea names the federal and provincial governments, the home secretary, the inspector general of police, and the commissioners of Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan as respondents. The petitioner urges the court to take immediate action before the security crisis spirals further out of control, emphasizing that justice delayed could mean more lives lost.
