PHC orders FC to reopen route in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday ordered the Frontier Constabulary (FC) to immediately reopen a route closed by it for the residents.
A division bench comprising Justice Qaisar Rashid Khan and Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani was hearing a contempt of court petition filed against the closure of the route from Civil Quarters to the FC Chowk by the FC personnel in violation of the court’s order.Justice Qaisar Rashid observed that by closing the roads the security forces added to the woes of the already troubled citizens.
Expressing annoyance over the closure of the route in the provincial capital by the FC, the bench questioned whether civilians would go to their houses in helicopters if the routes are closed.
Lawyer Aamir Sabir, the petitioner, said the closure of this particular route by the FC had badly affected the people of several localities, including Kotla Mohsin Khan, Nauthia Jadeed, Nauthia Qadeem, Landi Arbab, Dheri Baghbanan and Gulgusht Colony. He said it connects different localities, including Civil Quarters and Peshawar Saddar.
The petitioner said the people used the route in large numbers, but the FC installed a gate and closed it for the general public. He noted that the office of the FC Commandant was located nearby. He said the said route had been used mostly by students and government servants.
The petitioner recalled that a bench of the high court had granted interim relief to him on May 30 and directed the reopening of the passage until the final disposal of the petition. He said the authorities had not complied with the order.
Justice Qaisar Rasheed observed it was an injustice that a route used for many decades by the people was closed down abruptly.
The bench directed the FC’s counsel to convey to the high-ups the decision of the high court to reopen the route for the general public.It termed the act of the FC as illegal and unconstitutional as it had placed undue restrictions on the freedom of movement of people.