PESHAWAR — The Peshawar High Court (PHC) expressed strong displeasure over the closure of roads due to protests staged by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and directed authorities to immediately reopen all affected routes. The court also ordered a compliance report to be submitted by tomorrow.
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The hearing was conducted on a petition filed against the road blockages, with Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed presiding. Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Inspector General (IG) of Police Zulfiqar Hameed appeared before the bench.
پشاور ہائی کورٹ میں سڑکوں کی بندش کے معاملے پر سماعت کے دوران عدالت کا لہجہ سخت رہا۔ ججز نے واضح کیا کہ سیاسی احتجاج کی آڑ میں عوام کو اذیت میں مبتلا کرنا آئین اور قانون دونوں کی خلاف ورزی ہے۔
مریضوں اور عام شہریوں کی مشکلات پر عدالت نے برہمی کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے آئی جی اور چیف… pic.twitter.com/rfcDND3Tzb
— Abbas Chandio (@AbbasChandio__) February 17, 2026
During proceedings, the Advocate General stated that PTI parliamentarians had gone to Islamabad to ensure the implementation of a Supreme Court order. However, the bench noted that Islamabad fell outside its jurisdiction and instructed authorities to take prompt action against the protesters.
The court rejected the IG’s request for two days to act, emphasizing that blocking roads was causing inconvenience to citizens. The bench highlighted reports of two individuals dying due to the closures and stressed that no protests should be allowed within Peshawar.
Justice Anwar observed that blocking a single road brought the entire city to a standstill, while traffic personnel were often absent at key points. The bench also questioned the Chief Secretary on measures taken, noting that a proper traffic management system appeared lacking despite the Safe City project nearing completion.
IG Zulfiqar Hameed assured that roads would be reopened and legal action taken against those responsible. He stated that action would be based on findings and references from motorway police, stressing that law and order remained a challenge across the province.
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The court’s orders underscore the judiciary’s insistence on maintaining public safety and mobility, particularly in urban centers like Peshawar, where protests can significantly disrupt daily life. Authorities have been instructed to implement the directives immediately and ensure citizens’ access to essential services is not hindered.