PESHAWAR – The Peshawar High Court (PHC) disposed of several petitions against road and highway closures on Wednesday. The court acted after the provincial government confirmed that all transport arteries are now open.
A division bench of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed presided over the Peshawar High Court road blockage hearing. Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel and petitioner’s counsel Tariq Afghan appeared before the court to provide updates.
‘The People Are Suffering’: PHC Orders Immediate Reopening of Blockaded Arteries
Government Reports Full Traffic Restoration
Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel submitted a comprehensive report during the proceedings. He informed the bench that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered all field officers to ensure free traffic flow.
“We collected data from across the province. The reports are now on file. All blocked routes are open,” the Advocate General stated.
Justice Ijaz Anwar noted that some roads remained blocked late Tuesday night. However, Tariq Afghan confirmed that authorities finally cleared the Swabi Motorway.
Concerns Over Public Hardship
The hearing took a somber turn when the petitioner’s counsel claimed the closures caused tragic deaths. “Patients died because they could not reach hospitals. Yet, the police have not registered an FIR against those responsible,” Afghan argued.
Justice Ijaz Anwar responded that the court had not received a specific case regarding these deaths. “We will examine any formal case strictly according to the law,” the judge remarked.
A Critique of Traffic Culture
The bench expressed frustration over the state of traffic management in KP. Justice Ijaz Anwar lamented that the province suffers from the worst traffic chaos in the country.
“Protesters shut down the entire city at will. Even at red lights, drivers honk at those who wait for the green signal. We must find a solution to make people respect the rules.” — Justice Ijaz Anwar
Additional Advocate General Inam Yusufzai told the court that the government is drafting a “Master Plan” for urban traffic. He noted that a new E-Challan system would soon improve digital enforcement on the roads.
Court Verdict
The PHC disposed of the petitions after reviewing the reports. The court emphasized the need for a permanent mechanism to prevent future protests from paralyzing public life. This would ensure citizens do not need to seek judicial intervention during every political demonstration.
