PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench has sought replies from the communication secretary and National Highway Authority chairman about a petition seeking the court orders for the government to properly fence the nationwide motorways to reduce accidents.

Justice Qaiser Rasheed and Justice Qalandar Ali Khan directed respondents to respond to the petition filed by Peshawar resident Asmatullah, who has challenged several issues related to motorways in the country.

The respondents in the petition are the federal government through communication secretary, NHA chairman, and inspector general of motorway and highway police.

Peshawar resident insists animals roam on motorways endangering people’s life

The petitioner requested the court to direct the respondents to properly fence motorways to address dangers to human life.

He prayed the court to direct the respondents to legislate and frame rules and regulations to penalise motorists, who throw dirt or used items on motorways.

The petitioner also sought the court’s orders for the blocking of all illegal entry points to motorways.

Noor Alam Khan, lawyer for the petitioner, said the mega project of constructing a motorway had begun in 1992 but it was still in progress in different areas of the country.

He claimed that from Peshawar to Karachi, the total length of motorways was 4266km.

The lawyer said the motorway was a mega project, which had been playing an important role in the development of the country.

He said initially, the respondents looked after the motorways well, kept them very clean and adopted all safety measures for their users.

The lawyer added that motorways were properly fenced and no animal of any kind could enter it but with the passage of time, fences were either taken away by people or were broken at different spots.

He claimed that animals including the cattle could be seen roam on motorways, which could cause accidents.

Noor Alam said from Peshawar to Karachi, toll plazas had been set up at a number of points from where toll tax had been received from vehicles regularly.

He however said despite earning huge sum of money through toll tax, the authorities had not been looking after the motorways in proper manner.

The counsel said hitchhikers could be seen standing along the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway seeking fast moving vehicles to take them on board, which was an illegal practice.

He said the illegal entry of the people to the motorway was increasing day by day, which the respondents were required to handle properly.

The lawyer said it was also observed that motorists had been throwing trash, including used bottles, which could burst vehicle tyres and thus, threatening people’s life.

He added that it was required to make proper rules and regulations to impose penalties on all such motorists, who were found throwing wastes on motorways.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2018