PESHAWAR: A lawyer from Kurram district on Friday moved Peshawar High Court seeking directives for the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments for restoration of peace, opening of the main highway and provision of basic daily use commodities and services in the troubled district.

The lawyer, Mahmood Ali Turi, filed a petition requesting the court for issuance of directives to the federal and provincial governments, law enforcing agencies and other respondents to restore law and order, transport, educational and health services, access to food and basic necessities of life, including administration of justice there.

He further requested to direct the respondents to take measures including allowing use of helicopter for commoners and operationalizing Parachinar Airport on emergent basis and to take steps for arranging video-link facilities for candidates/students appearing in interviews at federal or provincial level by ordering restoration of internet facilities.

The petitioner has also sought interim relief seeking directives of the court for the respondent to submit a preliminary report for ensuring delivery of essential services and basic facilities or at-least transport-service, till disposal of the instant matter.

Seeks directives for govts to provide daily use items and services in troubled district

The petition, filed through Advocate Ali Azim Afridi include as respondents the federal government through secretary ministry of defense, federal interior secretary, KP government through its chief secretary, Civil Aviation Authority through its director general, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s chairman, secretaries of KP home, food, health, law, elementary and secondary education and higher education departments and the KP inspector general of police.

The petitioner stated that his main grievances include blockage of roads including the main highway, disruption of day-to-day affairs not restricted to amenities enjoyed by public-at-large, health facilities, obstruction of administration of justice, law, and order, etc. in Kurram district.

He stated that the public could neither enter nor exit the territory of Kurram because of law-and-order situation; which also led to stoppage of public-transport, suspension of cellular network/services; shortage of food supply and medicines.

He claimed that it had now been two-to-three months that normal life was disturbed, educational and health-facilities disrupted, physical-economic and social access to food was almost at the fag-end, which may lead to starvation.

He contended that right to life was a fundamental right, guaranteed by the Constitution, but at present that was almost nil when it comes to, the day-to-day affairs and smooth functioning of administration of justice/law and order, within Kurram district.

He contended that it was the duty of the respondents to ensure public safety, peace and tranquility within the district.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2024