PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court has directed National Highway Authority (NHA) to complete repair work on Hazara Motorway within three months.

A bench consisting of PHC Chief Justice Syed Mohammad Attique Shah and Justice Mohammad Faheem Wali directed the NHA general manager (maintenance), Said Nawab, to utilise all available resources and means to ensure timely completion of the project particularly in view of the motorway’s current dilapidated condition, marked by numerous depressions, pitfalls, potholes and surface cracks that posed serious risks to commuters.

“He is further directed to undertake personal visit to the site so as to see for himself about the agonies, miseries and sufferings of the people, who ply their vehicles on the bumpy Hazara Motorway, and submit his report within seven days positively,” the bench directed. It added that the officer should furnish his fortnightly report along with videography of the construction work.

Said Nawab informed the bench that repair/rehabilitation work was currently in progress and was expected to be completed within six months. However, the bench observed that keeping in view urgency of the matter and immense hardships faced by people, it would grant only a three-month period for completion of the work.

Bench directs NHA general manager to visit the site and submit report

The bench issued the order over a petition filed by a lawyer, Amjad Hassan Tanoli, challenging the alleged substandard construction and poor condition of the motorway.

The petitioner has requested the court to issue directives to federal government and NHA to immediately start repair work on the motorway and also to fix responsibility on officers/contractors responsible for its ‘substandard’ construction.

He sought directives for NHA and federal government to technically analyse the issue of damage caused to the motorway from Burhan to Abbottabad and proceed against the delinquents as per law.

The bench also directed the commissioner and the regional police officer of Hazara division, Fayyaz Ali Shah and Nasir Mehmood Satti, respectively, to furnish their respective reports regarding provision of all necessary facilities to visitors and tourists in the region.

“These reports must specifically address the availability and functionality of support mechanisms such as a facilitation mobile application, dedicated help lines, information desks and other public assistance services aimed at ensuring safety, convenience and guidance of visitors. The needful be done and the reports submitted to this court within seven days positively,” the court ordered.

Advocate Amjad Tanoli also drew attention of the bench towards alleged harassment faced by tourists/visiting families including himself by the hands of Abbottabad police.

The bench directed him to submit a formal written complaint in that regard accompanied by any available supporting material, including video graphic evidence, to the RPO of Hazara division.

The court ordered the RPO to promptly examine the matter, conduct a thorough inquiry and take appropriate remedial action to address and redress the grievances of the petitioner and other visitors, who travelled to Abbottabad for recreational or other lawful purposes.

The bench directed him to ensure that no citizen was subjected to undue harassment or mistreatment by law enforcement agencies and must also take steps to improve public-police relations in the area.

The bench ordered him to submit a detailed report on the inquiry within seven days.

The petitioner has claimed that due to non-compliance of rules and regulations on the subject, the motorway from Hassanabdal to Abbottabad had become a danger zone for vehicles. He argued that non-maintenance of Hazara Motorway was glaring violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2025