PESHAWAR:
Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Justice SM Atiq Shah, on Thursday voiced strong displeasure over the longstanding neglect of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s southern districts, declaring that residents have suffered both from terrorism and a deadly rise in road accidents.
He noted that more than 250 people lost their lives in traffic mishaps on the Indus Highway last year alone, calling it a crisis the state can no longer ignore.
The remarks came during the hearing of a case concerning the deteriorating condition of the Indus Highway. A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Ejaz Khan presided over the proceedings. Additional Attorney General Sanaullah, Additional Advocate General Inam Yusufzai, petitioner’s counsel Amjad Hassan Tanoli, NHA counsel Sikandar Rasheed and the GM Indus Highway were in attendance.
When the hearing commenced, the Chief Justice questioned the NHA counsel on progress, to which he responded that 85 per cent of the work had been completed but the absence of traffic personnel and chaotic traffic were causing delays and accidents. The Chief Justice then asked about the NHA chairman, only to be told the position was vacant. He expressed shock that such a major department was operating without a head despite the court’s earlier directives for urgent completion of the highway.
The Chief Justice lamented that over 274 people died in Indus Highway accidents in the past two years and said terrorism had already inflicted severe damage to the region. “When will these people receive relief? When will their deprivation end?” he asked.
