KP Roads Reopen Following Peshawar High Court Order

PESHAWAR: Following orders from the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to restore public highways, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Police and administration reopened several major routes across the province on Tuesday, dispersing protesters who had blocked roads for five days .

Key Routes Reopened

Several major routes were cleared for traffic, including Attock Bridge on the GT Road, roads connecting Dera Ismail Khan to Mianwali and Chashma, and the M-14 motorway from Dera Ismail Khan to Islamabad, including the CPEC Yarik Toll Plaza . The Hazara Motorway, including Havelian and Muslimabad interchanges, was also reopened . Negotiations with protesters continued at the M-1 Motorway interchange at Ambar in Swabi as of Tuesday .

PHC Directs Road Reopening

The Peshawar High Court issued a direct order to the Inspector General of Police and the Chief Secretary to immediately reopen the roads and submit a report by the end of the day, also directing action against those obstructing traffic . The court expressed strong disapproval of the road closures caused by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers protesting issues related to party founder Imran Khan’s health .

Constitutional Concerns

The PHC stated that hindering the public’s right to movement was a violation of the Constitution . Petitioners argued that the right to free movement is guaranteed under Article 15 of the Constitution . Justice Ijaz Anwar expressed concern over the province being cut off from the rest of the country and questioned the administration’s response, asking how many individuals had been charged for blocking the roads .

Protests and Public Disruption

PTI workers and supporters had blocked major highways and motorways across K-P in protest against the alleged denial of access to jailed party founder Imran Khan . These demonstrations severely disrupted traffic, isolating the province from Punjab and other regions, and caused hardship for commuters, including women, children, and patients .

Chief Minister’s Response

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed disapproval of the IG’s actions, suggesting he was taking direction from elsewhere, and questioned why the judiciary did not inquire into the reasons behind the protests .