IHC issues notices in response to plea against closure of Motorway (M-1)

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices in response to a petition filed against the closure of the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1). The petition, filed by Advocate Mian Shafqat Jan, a lawyer of the Supreme Court, sought the court's intervention to reopen the blocked routes for lawyers, litigants and emergency services.

The court's single bench heard the petition on Monday. Jan was unable to reach the Peshawar High Court (PHC) due to the closure of the motorway and requested the court to declare that any closure not imposed by or under a law, or that is not reasonable and proportionate to a legitimate public interest aim, including indefinite closures, is without lawful authority and of no legal effect.

He also requested the court to direct the respondents to remove or modify any closure and restore ordinary civilian passage on the said routes, subject to targeted, time-bound and reasoned measures as imposed by law. The petition cited various respondents including the Interior and Information Secretaries, inspectors general of National Highways and Motorway Police and Islamabad Police, National Highway Authority through its chairman, Islamabad Capital Territory administration through chief commissioner, and the Punjab government through its home secretary and inspector general of police.

Jan contended that his scheduled appearance before the PHC on September 24 was affected by the closure and that the lack of written notification or reasons for the closure infringed citizens' fundamental rights, warranting judicial intervention. The court deferred the hearing of the case for two weeks.