Freedom of movement: PHC wants Mall Road open for traffic

Reiterates directive for phase-wise removal of check-posts

PESHAWAR: To ease the movement of the public in the provincial capital, a high court on Thursday directed to open all blocked thoroughfares in the city including The Mall road, Secretariat road, Sahibzada Abdul Qayoom Khan Road and road blocked by Iranian consulate in University Town.

A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), comprising Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan and Justice Muhammad Ayub, while hearing a writ petition filed by Khurshid Khan against barricades and check posts dotting roads in Peshawar, once again directed the city’s authorities to remove barricades in phases.

“The court will appreciate if The Mall Road is opened to the public,” Justice Qaiser told the Cantonment Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Khawar Iftikhar, who was present in the court.

“Inform your seniors about the problems the people of the city are facing due to the check posts.”



The court also expressed displeasure over the non-compliance of its past orders which directed the phase-wise removal of check posts and the opening of Abdul Qayoom Khan Road Khan Road for public and to provide some relief from the chronic traffic jams in the city due to construction on the Bus Rapid Transit project.

“We have also earlier directed to open the historical route, known as Sahibzada Abdul Qayoom Khan Road for the public, but the order has not been complied with,” remarked Justice Qaiser. ”We had told you to remove the check posts gradually so that the people can feel the openness. What progress has been made?” he asked

The respondents told the court that they have already conveyed the court’s orders to their superiors who argued that the with the security situation in the city improving, a check post on the main Kohat Road and another one outside the Accountant General’s office had been removed. Moreover, a post located on Shami road had been relocated to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

A barricade near the State Life Building in Saddar has also been removed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2018.