PHC seeks progress report on removal of barricades, checkpoints in phases

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday sought detailed progress report from the Cantonment Board and Town-III administration regarding phase-wise removal of barricades and checkpoints in the city.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Qalandar Ali Khan and Justice Muhammad Ayub Khan sought report about removal of the barricades and link roads in the city and fixed February 20 for the next hearing.

At the previous hearing, Cantonment Executive Officer Adil Rafi Siddiqui, who was appointed as spokesperson in the case, informed the court that checkpoints were being removed from some areas in the Peshawar Cantonment.

However, the court asked him to submit progress report in writing at the next hearing. On Thursday, when the bench started hearing the case, the court was informed that the Cantonment Executive Officer had been transferred and the report would be submitted at the next hearing.

The court also directed the Town-III administration to submit progress report about removal of barricades and opening of roads in the University Town at the next hearing.

Senior lawyer Muhammad Khursheed Khan in his petition had sought an order from the court for removal of barricades, checkpoints and walls which were blocking entry to roads in the Cantonment and other areas of Peshawar.

The high court in its order stated that, “In the first step, the authorities should start removing barricades from those areas which is less necessary.”

The court directed Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) and SP Security to start implementing the court order so that the citizens get some relief from traffic problems in the city.

“The situation is going towards normalcy. We are noticing improvement in law and order situation,” the court observed, adding that citizens were facing difficulties due to these barricades and on account of blocking of link roads instead of security or facilitation in the name of security.

Petitioner Khursheed Khan argued that the Frontier Corps despite having a huge space in the Balahisar Fort had occupied the Nazar Bagh Road by erecting barricades near the fort and creating traffic problems in the city.

He said that at a little distance from Balahisar Fort, a wall had been erected on a road towards the Civil Secretariat and Police Lines from the Peshawar Central Prison.

The petitioner pointed out that barricades had also been put up on the nearby road outside the MPAs Hostel and Governor’s House and thus half of the road was closed.

The petitioner said another important road had been closed by erecting a wall close to the Governor’s House, Public Service Commission and Chief Minister’s House while there is strict checking on a link road near the Edwardes College.

The senior lawyer said due to the barricades and walls on roads in the name of so-called security, the people were facing hardships in reaching certain government departments, including the Public Service Commission, while the city was faced with a traffic mess as well.

He said citizens were being humiliated in the name of snap checking. The petitioner said that link roads towards the Mall Road from Qayyum Stadium had been closed by erecting walls.

Khursheed Khan pointed out that almost all link roads leading to Defence Colony had also been closed.

Separately, the bench re-issued notice to the Ministry of Interior and Inspector General of the Frontier Corps to explain their position in a writ petition that sought the historic Balahisar Fort to be vacated by the paramilitary force. The court clubbed the case with the removal of barricades petition.

This petition too was filed by senior Supreme Court lawyer, Muhammad Khursheed Khan. He sought an order for the government to get the Balahisar Fort vacated. The fort is currently being used as the FC headquarters.

The petitioner argued that under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Act 2016, Balahisar Fort has been declared a national heritage. He submitted that all famous forts, including Shahi Qila in Lahore and Lal Qila in Delhi and Lal Qila in Agra in India are open to the public.