Rawalpindi-A single bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday heard a petition against the closure of roads in the city to stop the rally of TLP and sought reply from police chief to inform the court the reason behind taking the crucial step.
LHC Rawalpindi Bench Justice Shakeel Ahmed took up writ petition filed by Malik Saleh Muhammad Advocate while making Punjab government, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Deputy Commissioner, City Police Officer and Chief Traffic Officer as respondents.
In the petition, the petitioner argued that the district government and police had closed all roads by placing containers and other barricades to stop the protestors of TLP from entering in Rawalpindi causing immense troubles for the citizens.
“Blocking roads and streets is a huge violation of basic human rights as well as of Article 15 of Constitution of Pakistan,” he added.
Assistant Advocate General also appeared before the court on behalf of the government.
LHC Rawalpindi Bench Justice Shakil Ahmed accepted the petition and sought written reply from CPO Rawalpindi to inform court about the dangers to avoid which the roads were closed.
Meanwhile, the closure of roads in city due to ongoing protests by banned outfit TLP for the fourth consecutive day has severely affected businesses and routine life.
Besides other areas, the blockade under Gwalmandi Bridge has irked the residents as well as motorcyclists.
Commuters from Rawalpindi struggled to get around the containers on motorbikes on their journey to the capital.
Citizens demanded the government to open the roads so that they could go to markets for buying daily use items.
The business activities in Saddar, Haider Road, Mall Road, Adam Jee Road, Canning Road, Bank Road, Commercial Market, Sadiqabad, Kuri Road, Faizabad, Double Road and other adjoining areas had been affected as government had blocked the main artery leading to these commercial areas. Metro Bus Service also remained suspended.
“PTI government failed to address the issue,” said Shehzad Shah, a citizen. He said the police and government should open roads for public movement.
Roads leading to Islamabad from Rawalpindi were blocked by shipping containers as the government aimed to prevent long march of TLP, said Sabeeqa Bibi.
Heavy contingent of police and other law enforcement agencies were also deployed to stop the TLP demonstration which had paralysed normal life, she said.