Peshawar: Peshawar High Court (PHC) has taken serious notice of prolonged road blockades caused by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) protests, expressing strong displeasure over the disruption of public life and directing authorities to immediately reopen all major routes.
The hearing was conducted by a division bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed, on petitions filed by Sobia Shahid, Tariq Afghan and Yousaf Ali against road closures by PTI.
During the hearing on 17 February 2026, petitioners’ counsel informed the court that continuous road blockades had caused severe hardship to the public, disrupted daily life and affected emergency services. They requested the court to ensure restoration of law and order.
Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked that the shutdown had continued for several days and questioned the inaction of the provincial government. He observed that people were unable to travel, lawyers could not reach courts and patients were suffering due to blocked routes.
The Advocate General, Shah Faisal, sought time to compile relevant data and clarified that he was not representing any political party. The court, however, asked for details regarding legal action taken, including the number of FIRs registered, and noted that valuable lives had been lost due to the situation.
In the subsequent hearing, the Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa appeared before the court. The IGP informed the bench that roads had been blocked at 16 locations, out of which 10 had already been cleared. He added that some areas fell under motorway jurisdiction, limiting police action without formal references.
The court rejected this justification, observing that traffic management in the province was worse than in other parts of the country. Justice Ijaz Anwar criticized selective enforcement by police and stated that authorities remained passive when action was needed but acted swiftly under preventive laws when it suited them.
The bench also remarked that the ruling party was causing hardship to its own people through such protests. “People are suffering, people are dying and you seem unconcerned,” Justice Anwar said, adding that protests should not come at the cost of public inconvenience.
When the IGP requested two days to submit a detailed report, the court refused and directed authorities to begin reopening roads immediately. The court further ordered that motorways and major routes must not be blocked under any circumstances in the future.
The IGP assured the court that all remaining roads would be cleared the same day.
Following the assurances, the court adjourned the hearing, while emphasizing that maintaining public mobility and safety is the government’s constitutional responsibility.
