PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with the steps taken by Peshawar district’s administration for checking the frequent blocking of Khyber Road, Sher Shah Suri Roads and other major arteries by protesters and directed the provincial government and deputy commissioner to take more measures to ensure an effective end to the practice.

A bench consisting of Justice Roohul Amin Khan and Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan directed deputy commissioner Shafiullah and Peshawar capital city police officer Mohammad Ijaz Khan to deal with protesters in accordance with the law to prevent the people from inconvenience.

It asked the government and district administration to produce a report on the steps taken or to be taken to check street protests.

The bench observed that protesters frequently blocked major roads, including the Khyber Road and Sher Shah Suri Road, suspending traffic for hours to the misery of the population of the entire city.

Directs district administration to address issue

Advocate general Shumail Ahmad Butt informed it that he recently held a detailed meeting with the chief secretary on the issue and learned that the government had planned legislation to ban rallies on thoroughfares.

He said a few days ago, teachers had blocked the roads near the provincial assembly and high court buildings, while the doctors were marching on the Sher Shah Suri Road’s main square.

The bench adjourned until Nov 22 the hearing into a ‘pro bono’ petition filed by senior journalist Mohammad Jamshed Baghwan seeking its orders for the respondents, including the government, to allot a suitable space or ground for rallies by political parties, associations, unions and other groups to prevent disruption of the people’s right to free movement.

Advocate Ali Gohar Durrani appeared for the petitioner and said despite the court’s earlier orders, those roads were frequently by protesters to the people’s inconvenience.

The deputy commissioner said the roads got blocked due to protests by different organisations.

The bench told him that he was part of the administration, so what steps he had taken to address the issue.

Justice Roohul Amin observed that the court was not satisfied with the administration’s measures against street protests.

The bench asked the DC to ensure that those rallies don’t trouble people.

When asked, the DC informed the court that he was holding talks with schoolteachers during their recent protest in the city to ensure the early reopening of a blocked road.

The bench observed that it held teachers in high esteem but no one could be allowed to violate the law.

It added that it didn’t ask the administration to thrash protesters but the latter should act in accordance with the law.

The bench declared that nobody should be allowed to violate the law and if anyone was influencing the administration on the matter, the court should be informed about it for action.

The petitioner’s counsel said the GT Road was the main artery of Peshawar, whereas Suri Pul on it was a critical junction linking it to Khyber Road, Bacha Khan Chowk, Jail Road and Peshawar city.

He said part of the Khyber Road outside the provincial assembly’s building was frequently ‘misused’ by street protesters causing massive traffic jams.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2022