PESHAWAR – The Peshawar High Court (PHC) delivered a sharp rebuke to administrative failures today. The court ordered the immediate reopening of all provincial arteries. It demanded that the government end the three-day blockade paralyzing the region.
Justice Ejaz Anwar presided over petitions against the road closures. He addressed the Chief Secretary and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) directly. The court’s message was clear: political protests must not violate the constitutional right to free movement.
The hearing revealed the extent of the disruption. IGP Zulfifar Hameed confirmed that protests continue at six key points, down from an initial 14.
“How many days has this lasted?” Justice Anwar asked. “Is this not a violation of the law?” He noted that the gridlock even hindered the judiciary. Six cases faced delays today because lawyers could not travel from Islamabad.
The court highlighted a painful irony. The province currently mourns 14 personnel killed in recent security incidents. Despite this, the ruling party continues to lead protests that distress the public.
“The entire country is open, yet Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is shut down,” Justice Anwar remarked. “This action hurts your own people.”
کسی نے بین الصوبائی سڑکیں بند کر رکھی ہیں تو کسی نے پشاور شہر کو بند کر رکھا ہے ۔۔
پشاور میں بلدیاتی نمائندوں کا احتجاج اسمبلی چوک ٹریفک کے لیے بند ۔۔متعدد مظاہرین اسمبلی چوک میں زمین پر لیٹ گئے۔۔ریڈ زون کے دروازے سیل pic.twitter.com/nI6fJUrL4x
The bench also criticized the chronic mismanagement of Peshawar’s roads. Justice Anwar labeled the city’s traffic as the worst in Pakistan. He argued that a functional system simply does not exist in the province.
The IGP admitted to these failures. He mentioned plans for “e-challan” systems to improve the situation. However, the court remained skeptical of future promises while current roads remain blocked.
Key Mandates from the PHC:
Constitutional Rights: The law guarantees every citizen the right to move freely.
Government Responsibility: Justice Anwar called it “unfortunate” that a governing party would cause such public suffering.
The Motorway Rule: The court issued a specific order: the Motorway must remain open at all costs.
No More Delays
The IGP requested two days to resolve the crisis. The bench flatly rejected this timeline. “Do not take two days. Start today,” Justice Anwar commanded. “Allow no one to block the roads. Travelers are now clashing with protesters out of sheer frustration.”
The Advocate General offered no defense for the blockades. He stated that no one would support “wrongful acts.” This signaled a possible shift in the administration’s approach.
Usman Danish is an experienced journalist from Peshawar who reports on the judiciary, human rights, climate issues, and major news developments. He holds membership in both the Peshawar Press Club and the Khyber Union of Journalists.
