Zubair Qureshi
The Islamabad High Court has directed the Islamabad Capital Territory Authority (ICTA) not to close any road as it is violative of the fundamental rights of citizens and causes inconvenience to commuters.
The court gave this order while hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf that had challenged closure of Aabpara Road and the road in front of Lal Masjid.
ICT Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz appeared before Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani and submitted the students of the Chief Cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz often blocked the road in front of the Lal Masjid and protested causing law and order problems.
The judge asked him what the city government was doing to address the issue. “We are holding dialogue with them,” said the DC. However his reply invited the ire of the court as the judge asked him in that case you should hold dialogues and resolve the global issues.
Later the court ordered him to open all the closed roads of Islamabad forthwith.During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel stated that the road outside Lal Masjid was sealed. The judge expressed displeasure over the issue and ordered DC Irfan Nawaz to open the road immediately.Meanwhile, the counsel pointed out that the Aabpara-Melody road was blocked. “The public should approach their representatives for their rights,” Justice Mohsin Kayani said, adding that the High Court will soon issue an order on road closure. Earlier in May, the PTI had filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against the closure of main arteries and possible arrests in the federal capital.
The PTI counsel asked the high court to stop the city administration from sealing the roads and police from arresting people. The chief commissioner, deputy commissioner and Islamabad inspector general were made parties in the plea.
