PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday directed the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to respond to a petition seeking restoration of peace, opening of the main highway, and provision of essential commodities and services to people in the troubled Kurram tribal district.

A bench consisting of Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Wiqar Ahmad issued notices to both governments over the petition filed by lawyer from Kurram Mahmood Ali Turi.

The petitioner requested the court to direct the governments, law-enforcement agencies and other respondents to restore law and order, transport, educational and health services, and people’s access to basic necessities of life, including food, and justice.

He also sought orders for authorities to take measures, including permission to use helicopters for people and operationalisation of Parachinar Airport on an immediate basis. The petitioner called for the video-link facility for candidates set to appear in interviews and tests.

The petitioner also sought interim relief from the court through orders for authorities to submit a preliminary report for the delivery of essential services and basic facilities or at least transport service, till the disposal of the case.

The respondents named in the petition include the federal government through the defence secretary, interior secretary, KP government through its chief secretary, Civil Aviation Authority through its director general, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s chairman, secretaries of the KP home, food, health, law, elementary and secondary education and higher education departments, and the provincial inspector general of police.

Advocate Ali Azim Afridi appeared for the petitioner and insisted that the main grievances of his client were the blocked roads and the main highway, disruption of day-to-day affairs of people and health facilities, and obstruction of administration of justice, and poor law and order situation in Kurram district.

He added that the people could neither enter nor exit the territory of Kurram because of the poor law and order situation, which also disrupted transport service, suspended mobile service, and caused a shortage of food and medicines.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024