Chief Justice takes suo motu notice of traffic blockades for VVIP movement

E-Paper | April 28, 2026

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday took suo motu notice of the frequent blockade of roads for VVIP movement all over the country, ordering that the authorities concerned submit a report on the matter.

Blocking thoroughfares for the general public in order to let politicians, bureaucrats and other persons of influence pass through with ease is a go-to move of police officials across Pakistan — a practice viewed as the enabling of VIP culture and promoting class differences.

The discriminatory practice, however, may have finally reached a tipping points, with some now not afraid of flouting police's orders to stop at blockades, even if police claim the inconvenience lasts only for "a few minutes".

An instance of such defiance was observed on Friday, when angry commuters in Karachi forced traffic police to re-open the busy Shahrah-e-Quaideen, which had been blocked to accommodate VVIP movement.

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Pakistan

Angry commuters force police to clear road blocked for VVIP movement in Karachi

VIP movement

Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Jan 08, 2018 08:16pm

Good decision, as there should be NO VVIP protocols for disqualified and corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and celebrities. They are not from other planet, and must be treated like ordinary citizens with minimum security, as it is provided in Europe. Law should be same for all!

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Rajab

Jan 08, 2018 08:17pm

Kindly make it unconstitutional to block road for vvip.

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Arshad

Jan 08, 2018 08:17pm

Finally it is being recognized as a problem. This needs to be resolved and mindset changed.

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soodie.johri@gmail.com

Jan 08, 2018 08:17pm

Hon'ble Chief Justice please finish the VIP culture .For doing this you will be remembered in history as best step taken by some brave CJ ,because no law maker in the assembly will do any thing about it . They enjoy VIP culture.

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Res Judicata

Jan 08, 2018 08:22pm

A very reasonable and compassionate step taken by CJP.

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Garib Das

Jan 08, 2018 08:31pm

This practice is everywhere in world. . Needs to be reviewed . It is nice to hear that judiciary in Pakistan has been so aware .

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lion

Jan 08, 2018 09:39pm

Protocol movements are necessary part of society all over the world. Pakistanis should calm down and pray and try to regain patience. It happens in USA also.

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Leoman

Jan 08, 2018 10:02pm

I wonder where is NS and others like him who favour people when they are in trouble but when people are in trouble they hardly notice anything. once these non democratic people are elected some or how then they leave behind people and democracy,they become Royal or more than that. Even they don't care about law and the people whose votes made them reach the office. This notice by chief justice must be hailed by all those who favour common people and their rights in a democratic country.

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Fawwad

Jan 08, 2018 10:27pm

There should be no VVIP CULUTURE and VVIP PROTOCOL for any one at all. However, a system should be develop to categorise following people among preferred citizens and treated preferably. Which are: Families of Martyrs (Shaheed, like Aitzaz Ahsan), Teachers/Professors, Highly accomplished citizens, scientists, etc.

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Ehsan

Jan 08, 2018 10:39pm

I request the courts to outlaw VVIP protocols across the country. These public and private sector VIPs are a menace to society. No more protocols for politicians, ministers, diplomats, military generals. Also, rich influential private people have also started the practice of private protocols which needs to be penalised heavily. Law should be strict and equal for everyone.

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Amin

Jan 08, 2018 11:57pm

A big NO to VIP culture.

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L.Ahmad

Jan 09, 2018 12:29am

VIP culture has caused long time suffering for ordinary citizens who are always obstructed by VIP movements as they go about their daily work. Bury it once and forever. .

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Tariq, Lahore

Jan 09, 2018 12:40am

Only when VVIP culture is broken perhaps then our rulers might understand the pain of the ordinary citizen!

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M. Sarwar

Jan 09, 2018 12:46am

Hats off to Karachi commuters. Only emergency vehicles should get priority.Boot out the VIP culture.

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Ahsan Iqbal

Jan 09, 2018 01:20am

Excellent work, Thank you SC and CJ

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Hassan Parvez

Jan 09, 2018 01:31am

Brave people of Karachi has shown to the nation how to defy the road blockade for VVIP movement, people in other cities should follow their example to get rid of this perk used by the influential in society.

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Miqbal rangoonwala

Jan 09, 2018 05:35am

At last after 70 years so body took so muto notice in history of pakistan

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Shahid Yousuf

Jan 09, 2018 06:06am

Well done ! This Sou Motu is, really, enterpretaion of the Pakistani comman people. The nation is faced enough such discreminations and prejudices, now it cant face more. The nation strictly condemn the contemptuous politicins and bureaucrates manner and cheap.efforts toward common people.

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m mirza

Jan 09, 2018 06:51am

CJ should also look at barriers built by the depraved rulers to protect themselves. The one built in Clifton is a classic example of gross contempt of peoples rights whereby two public roads have been annexed into the Bilaeal House.

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LAHORI KID

Jan 09, 2018 07:33am

This isn't anything new, been happening for decades. Its true PML-N and PPP took it to new levels, and made it VVVVVIP

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Aamir

Jan 09, 2018 10:00am

Untill and unless their is some foreign dignitary involved, no road should be blocked for any Pakistani politician, officer in uniform or without uniform they should be treated as normal citizens.

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SHAHID SATTAR

Jan 09, 2018 02:58pm

I don't know for now, but a few years back a Sindh High Court Sitting Judge would let his pilot rider travel on the wrong side of the road and follow him in his car to get a chance to be in time for his own workplace daily.

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