PHC orders reopening of KP roads blocked by PTI supporters

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and police to ensure the reopening of roads blocked by PTI supporters and protesters in recent days.

The protesting workers of PTI have blocked KP’s entry and exit points for the last four days, demanding that the federal government move incarcerated party founder Imran Khan from jail to a hospital for medical treatment.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Ijaz Anwar and including Justice Farah Jamshed took up the set of almost identical petitions filed by MPA Sobia Shahid, lawyer Tariq Afghan and Swabi resident Yousaf Ali.

Upon the bench summoning them, KP Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed and KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel also appeared in court later in the day.

During the hearing, Justice Anwar said it was “unfortunate that the ruling party here is protesting [and] hurting the province’s people”.

Utmankhel assured the bench that “no one would defend any wrong act.” While IG Hameed sought two days for the police to “fix the situation”.

“Begin today, and do not let anyone block the roads,” Justice Anwar stressed.

“The entire country is open, but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is shut. This is against our own people.”

“The motorway should not be closed off under any circumstances,” he added, noting that people could not leave their houses due to the blocked routes.

Protesters had blocked Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway at Swabi’s Anbar Interchange, GT Road at Khairabad Bridge, Dera Ismail Khan-Bhakkar Road, Lakki Marwat-Mianwali Road, Hazara Motorway at Abbottabad-Havelian Interchange, Kohat-Pindi Road near Khushal Garh and Upper Kohistan-Gilgit Karakoram Highway.

“Reopen the roads and ensure the same,” Justice Anwar ordered, telling the KP IG and the chief secretary to submit their reports regarding the matter by tomorrow.

Subsequently, the bench adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.

The closure of M-1, the main artery connecting Peshawar with the rest of the country, has put the GT Road, the other major road, under immense strain as the neglected highway is unable to cater to the traffic diverted from the motorway.

Also, the GT Road is facing closures by PTI activists, causing massive inconvenience to people travelling to attend urgent business meetings and exams, take international flights from Islamabad airport and seek treatment.

The businessmen, whose supplies have got stuck along the road, are also distressed.

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