Verdict reserved on BRT project

K-P advocate general submits contract documents, traffic management plan

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the Rapid Bus Transit (BRT) project.

The order came as a two-bench of the court, comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Syed Afsar Shah concluded hearings on a petition filed by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUF-F) leader  Maulana Amanullah Khan who had challenged the construction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, terming it as ‘legally and technically unfeasible.’

On Thursday, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Advocate General Abdul Latif Yousafzai submitted the required documents and a traffic management plan for the project.

Yousafzai also provided the contract letters signed by the government and the contractor Maqbool and Calson, a document which had been demanded by the prosecution.

“The government usually does not make such contracts [public],” Yousafzai told the court. “The contract letters are only for the PHC.”

However, the prosecution was of the view that the contract is a public document and that the public has a right to see it.

They had alleged that the contractor had been blacklisted by the Lahore Development Authority. However, a lawyer for the company had on Wednesday told the court that the company had been cleared by the Lahore High Court and presented a copy of the verdict.

The petitioner also told the court that the company had entered into a plea bargain with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the past.

The court directed Shumail Butt, the counsel of the construction company to submit details of its plea bargain with NAB.

Traffic management plan

Officials of the traffic police also presented details of a traffic management plan for the period construction on the project continues.

The court was told that the traffic police officials are working around the clock to facilitate the public.

“The public has the psyche that they will only use the GT Road and never opt for the alternative routes,” traffic police officials said.

The court was further told about other problems in traffic management, with officials stating that the police was trying to provide the public with some relief.

The court was told that a cell has been made in the Deputy Commissioner’s office where a 24-hour helpline is available: 1915, while a text message service on 8333 has also been activated to inform motorists about traffic jams on the road and guide them to use alternative roads.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2017.