‘Sensitive areas’: Disgruntled resident moves Peshawar High Court against blocked roads

Says only two roads in Peshawar Cantt open for regular flow of traffic.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has been moved against the blockade of roads in the city’s cantonment area, seeking that these routes be reopened to avoid traffic diversion and jams.

In a writ petition filed on Wednesday, Advocate Muhammad Essa Khan claimed that the neighbourhood has become no-go area for the public, which is unlawful and discriminatory. He said that reopening those roads that are blocked due to security concerns will help reduce hour-long traffic jams. He said that while Khyber Road is open for traffic, public transport vehicles cannot use it and are only allowed on Saddar Road.

A divisional bench of the PHC, comprising Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth, was told that three of the four respondents have submitted their replies, saying the issue is the prerogative of the armed forces as it is a ‘sensitive’ area which is why the roads have been blocked. The respondents who have replied are home and tribal affairs secretary, SP traffic and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police chief.

“Why don’t they shift the cantonment area near frontier regions to block infiltration of militants from tribal areas?” the CJ remarked, ordering the station commander to provide the court with legal justification for the cement walls that have been built inside the cantonment area.