• Expresses annoyance over closure of highways linking KP with rest of country
• Separate petition in FCC seeks declaration that blockades are unconstitutional

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief to ensure the reopening of roads blocked by PTI activists demanding the transfer of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan to a hospital for medical treatment.

A two-judge PHC bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed expressed annoyance over the closure of major roads and highways connecting KP with the rest of the country and directed the IGP “to ensure that no one be allowed to take the law into his hands by blocking the roads/highways”.

“He shall take appropriate steps to remove all kinds of obstructions from highways and shall further ensure that the highways and the roads are open for the public,” the bench ordered, asking the IGP to submit a compliance report on Wednesday (today).

Protesting PTI workers have blocked KP’s entry and exit points since Friday, demanding that the federal government move the party founder from jail to a hospital for medical treatment.

The bench issued the order on a set of petitions requesting the court to declare the ‘forced’ closure of major highways and motorways by PTI leaders and activists illegal and unconstitutional.

The petitioners sought directives for the KP government, its home secretary and inspector general of police to immediately remove all unlawful obstructions and ensure the restoration of free and safe movement of people throughout the province.

When Justice Anwar inquired how ma­­ny days the roads had been blocked, IGP Zul­fiqar Hameed replied that the roads have been shut for the past three days. Initially, he said, 14 points were blocked, and protests were underway at six points.

Justice Anwar remarked: “Such is the security situation in the province that even today, 14 people have been martyred. These are the conditions, but despite this, there are protests, and roads are closed.” The judge observed that the law guaranteed citizens the right to freedom of movement, yet they were still “facing difficulties”.

Justice Anwar said it was “unfortunate that the ruling party here is protesting [and] hurting the province’s people”.

IG Hameed sought two days for the police to “fix the situation”, but Justice Anwar declined the request, ordering that the roads be opened immediately.

“Begin today, and do not let anyone block the roads,” he stressed. “The entire country is open, but Khyber Pakhtun­khwa is shut. This is against our own people. The motorway should not be closed under any circumstances,” he added, noting that people could not leave their homes due to the blocked routes.

Petition in FCC

Meanwhile, a private citizen on Tuesday approached the Federal Constitutional Court, seeking a declaration that road blockades were unconstitutional and that the KP administration should immediately clear all road obstructions across the province.

Petitioner Advocate Khawaja Azhar Rasheed requested the FCC to direct KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and his government to ensure free movement in the province.

The petitioner argued that KP was currently experiencing traffic disruptions due to road blockades by PTI workers, allegedly aided and abetted by the KP government. The petition stated that these blockades were causing hardships for commuters, patients, students and daily wage earners, besides restricting public access to courts in the province.

Nasir Iqbal in Islamabad also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026