QUETTA: A bench of the Balochistan High Court (BHC), comprising Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barech and Justice Sardar Ahmad Halimi, has directed the government of Balochistan to immediately lift the suspension of public transport services and review its order to keep mobile networks and data services suspended until August 31, 2025.
The court further ordered that in areas with no security threats, mobile networks and data services must be restored without delay.
The bench issued these directives during the hearing of a constitutional petition filed by Balochistan Consumer Civil Society Chairman Khair Muhammad Shaheen, challenging the suspension of public transport and mobile network/data services in the province.
During Thursday’s proceedings, petitioner Khair Muhammad Shaheen, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Balochistan Hamza Shafqat, Advocate General (AG) Adnan Basharat along with Zahoor Ahmed Baloch, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Farid Ahmed Dogar, PTA Deputy Director Anwar Naseem with Jamil Ahmed Khan, and Ministry of Interior representative Umar Saeed appeared before the court. Dr Pervez Khan Advocate represented Respondent No. 1.
The court noted that an intervention application under Order 1 Rule 10 CPC had been filed by Muhammad Naeem Khan, which was taken on record. However, the replies submitted by the parties were deemed unsatisfactory, and they were instructed to file detailed responses on the next hearing.
The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) informed the court that public transport services were temporarily suspended.
The bench, finding this statement without reasonable justification, ordered the provincial government to withdraw the suspension order immediately.
Regarding mobile network and data suspension, the AG stated that services were halted during Ashura due to security concerns. Both the AG and ACS acknowledged that security threats existed only in certain areas, not across the province.
The court, therefore, directed the government to reconsider its blanket suspension order until August 31, 2025, and restore services in all areas without security threats.
The hearing was adjourned until August 21.
