Court orders govt to initiate action against district admin, police for failure in opening roads during PTI long march.

RAWALPINDI -- Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf of the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench on Wednesday termed the failure of the Rawalpindi administration and police to paralyze the life system through protest sit-ins and road closures on the occasion of Tehreek-e-Insaf's long march.

'The Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, City Police Officer, Regional Police Officer and Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi have badly failed in performing their duties with dedication and commitment to maintain law and order situation,' the judge of apex court remarked while announcing the verdict over petitions filed by citizens against PTI for road closures during long march. The LHC Rawalpindi Bench also directed Secretary Establishment Division and Chief Secretary Punjab to initiate strict legal action against these officers. The court also ordered them to hold inquiry against these officers and to submit the report with court within three months.

'The provincial and federal secretaries, district administration, National Highway and Motorway Police and city traffic police should evolve such a coordinated and organized strategy to avoid occurrence of such situation in future,' the judge observed. Meanwhile, the apex court also made unconditional apology of Secretary General of PTI as part of verdict and remarked, 'There is no direct role of PTI Chief and Secretary General seen in road blockage and paralysing normal life,' the judge ruled. The court said that maintaining law and order and protecting lives and property is sole responsibility of commissioner, DC and AC, whereas, the DC and SSP Operations had assured the court that all the roads blocked by protesters would be...