Even intra-city blockades are common, render pockets of populations, disconnected & virtually hostage to such elements
SANGHAR: The Constitution of Pakistan bestows upon me and for that matter, upon every citizen, the right of free movement. Yet, it has been seen that political and religious parties and other groups have snatched this constitutional right from citizens. Political and religious parties, ethnic, sectarian and other groups, rowdy mobs, the business community and transporters, often unlawfully and unconstitutionally block main highways and intercity and inter-district roads. Even intra-city blockades are common and render pockets of populations, located in various parts of the same city, disconnected and virtually hostage to such elements and organisers of such blockades. Their danda bardaar workers and members, in total disregard for the constitutional rights of citizens to free movement, enforce unlawful and unconstitutional roadblocks through their dharnas and dandas.
A few weeks back, my father was forcibly denied his way to his workplace and my brother and I were forcibly denied our way to our educational institutions. Many other school-going children were not allowed to proceed to their schools either. An ailing relative was denied permission to proceed to a hospital, where an appointment with his consultant had been arranged with much difficulty. Besides my family’s predicament, millions of other citizens were also denied their constitutional right of free movement. My question to the government, the judiciary, political parties and from all of society is: who will protect and enforce my constitutional right to free movement?
Hafsa Huzoor Bukhsh
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2015.
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