QUETTA – While issuing directives for immediate public transport resumption across the province on Friday Balochistan High Court asked people at the helm to devise a strategy for restoration of frozen cellular and internet services in six days as next hearing is fixed for August 21.
A division bench of the Balochsitan High Court (BHC), comprising Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech and Justice Sardar Ahmad Halimi issued directives in response to plea of Khair Muhammad Shaheen, chairman of the Balochistan Consumer Civil Society. The court deemed the government’s justification for halting public transport that it was a temporary measure for security reasons as unreasonable and ordered the immediate withdrawal of the suspension order.
Regarding the ongoing mobile network shutdown, which was scheduled to last until August 31, the court directed the government to reconsider the province-wide ban. During the hearing, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Balochistan Muhammad Hamza Shafqat and Advocate General Adnan Basharat submitted saying ecurity threats were concentrated in specific areas, not the entire province. To which the bench directed officials to restore services in all areas where specific security threats do not exist.
The hearing has been adjourned until August 21, as the court continues to review the government’s security measures in relation to essential public services.
