PHC seeks response on misuse of official vehicles

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday issued notices to the federal and provincial governments, seeking their response on a petition against the misuse of official vehicles by government officers for personal purposes.

The petition requested the court to ban the private use of official vehicles. A two-member bench comprising Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Qazi Jawad Ahsanullah heard the petition filed by Advocate Mufti Noor-ul-Basr.

During the hearing, Advocate Malik Salman Khan representing the petitioner informed the court that government officers frequently used official vehicles beyond duty hours, including for private gatherings and events, despite these vehicles being purchased with taxpayers’ money. He argued that the primary purpose of providing vehicles to officers was to facilitate official duties, but instead, these vehicles were being misused, placing an unnecessary burden on the national treasury.