Traffic to be stopped only for two minutes to facilitate VVIP movement, orders SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday in its written judgement ordered that traffic can only be stopped for two minutes to facilitate VVIP movement in a case regarding road blockades to facilitate VVIP movement.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, a three-judge bench of the apex court heard the case at the Supreme Court’s (SC) Karachi Registry on January 13.

During the hearing, the CJP had questioned Sindh Inspector General AD Khawaja about the reasons behind blocking of public roads for long periods in order to assist VVIP movement.

To this, the Sindh IG had said there were laws governing the movement of politicians, bureaucrats and other top government functionaries on roads. To which CJP Nisar had said that the roads are never blocked for him, despite him being a VVIP himself.

The CJP had specified that the convenience of the public should be kept above everything else and that the general public faces immense hardships when roads are blocked for VVIPs.

Justice Nisar then directed the Sindh IG to submit an affidavit affirming that roads are not blocked to assist VVIP movement for long periods of time, stating further that the affidavit will be reviewed by the court to ensure that the people’s rights are protected.

The CJP took suo moto notice of the frequent blockade of roads for VVIP movement all over the country. He ordered the authorities concerned to submit a report on the matter.

It has become a frequent practice in the country to block the roads, with no regards for traffic flow, in order to assist smooth and safe movement of higher officials of the state’s institutions. The practice adds to the woes of public and enables, in fact, strengthens the VVIP culture in the country.

The public, however, has reached a tipping point. In Karachi last week, Karachiites forced traffic police to re-open the busy Shahrah-e-Quaideen, which had been blocked to accommodate VVIP movement.