SHC seeks East DC’s comments on plea against roads closure during PSL matches

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed the East deputy commissioner (DC) to file comments on a petition against the closure of roads and streets around the National Stadium during matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The direction came on the petition filed by a departmental store situated near the National stadium. The petitioner had submitted that the roads leading to the National Stadium from Hasan Square were closed during the PSL matches, which not only affected his business but also caused inconvenience to citizens who stranded for hours in traffic jams due to diversion of traffic.

The petitioner had submitted that the closure of roads affected the routine life of citizens who travelled to the Aga Khan University Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital and Bahadurabad. He had submitted that his business was also affected due to the closure of the roads as customers did not wait till the end of the PSL matches to go to markets.

The high court was requested to direct the government functionaries to ensure smooth traffic flow during the PSL matches and ensure that the roads leading to the National Stadium were not closed.

In his comments, the traffic DIG submitted that roads were closed during the PSL matches following a declaration of the VVIP status for the participating teams and the VIP status for the foreigner dignitaries and commentators by the federal government.

He said the traffic police issued a diversion plan for smooth flow of traffic and informed the citizens about alternative routes. The DIG submitted that the closure of roads was not any violation of the law and requested the high court to dismiss the petition.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi after taking the comments on record directed the East DC to file comments on the petition by February 27.