Regulating traffic: PHC gives 20-day deadline to dismantle illegal parking lots

Traffic police official says recommendations have been sent to the provincial government.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday gave a 20-day deadline to the traffic police, provincial transport authority and district government to remove all unauthorised car parking in the city.

Hearing a case of Human Rights Directorate regarding illegal car parking in the city, a two-member bench comprising PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani said illegal parking spaces are a nuisance and create traffic problems.



SSP Traffic Police Khalid Hamdani informed the court they will start campaigns to reduce traffic congestion. He added they have conducted various operations and registered 57 FIRs, 629 challans and imposed Rs3.1 million worth of fines while 802 outstation rickshaws were forced out from the city.

“We have conducted surveys in the traffic department and those found involved in corruption were reshuffled. We plan on conducting a massive operation soon after Muharram,” he informed the court.

In response, Justice Khan asked Khalid Hamdani what he would do if he had to take action against high-ranking police officials. “You can bring your subordinates to task, but what about those above you involved in the illegal parking business?” questioned the chief justice, adding students and ambulances get stuck in traffic every day while cars are parked on main roads in front of plazas due to the absence of underground parking spaces.

The bench also asked officials of the regional transport authority (RTA) why some illegal parking areas were opened when they were ordered to be sealed.

The court was told the RTA was facing problems in some cases and recommendations have been sent to the provincial government in this regard, adding they are now awaiting a response.

After hearing the arguments, the bench gave traffic police, PTA and district government 20 days to remove all such spaces in the city. The chief minister and IGP were directed to look into the matter and conduct an inquiry against retired and incumbent police officials involved in the business.

The cantonment executive officer was also directed not to issue licences for parking lots without a prior no-objection certificate (NOC) from the traffic police, warning any delay in this regard would not be accepted.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th,2013.