PHC Orders Immediate Reopening of Roads Amid PTI Protests in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has ordered the immediate reopening of roads blocked by PTI protests, highlighting the hardship faced by residents due to prolonged blockades.

During Tuesday’s hearing, a bench led by Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed directed provincial authorities to clear all blocked routes without delay. The court emphasized that citizens should not suffer because of political demonstrations.

The petition against the road closures revealed that two people had reportedly died while trying to reach their destinations, prompting the court to take urgent action. The Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed attended the proceedings. The Advocate General noted that some parliamentarians had traveled to Islamabad to follow a Supreme Court order, but the PHC clarified that Islamabad is outside its jurisdiction.

When the Inspector General requested two days to manage the situation, the court rejected the plea, insisting that authorities act immediately. The judges criticized the protests, stating it was regrettable that the ruling party’s actions were causing difficulties for ordinary citizens.

The PHC also highlighted that no protests should block the motorway or any roads in Peshawar, as children and other residents were unable to leave their homes. Authorities informed the court that protests had been reduced from 16 locations to 10, but the bench demanded full restoration of traffic flow and strict enforcement of law and order in the provincial capital.

The court’s ruling underlines the importance of balancing citizens’ rights with lawful protest and aims to prevent further public inconvenience.