Blocking the roads harms the general public. Their rights are violated. Patients are deprived of timely treatment. Academic activities of students are affected. Employed professionals are unable to deliver services and workers fail to get employment.
By Ghulamullah Kiyani
Blocking the roads during VIP movement and demonstrations with the help of containers or using force has become a routine in Pakistan. Similarly, the protestors too used to block the roads. Unlawful work is being presented as legal and legitimate by the government as well as those who want to lodge protest. The legitimate rights of an individual or a party must be protected, but the right of another cannot be violated for the sake of one’s own right. Whether the government blocks the roads or the people, it’s all bullying. All this is abuse of power and authority. Everyone knows that all this is unjustified. Blocking roads harms the general public. Their rights are violated. Patients are deprived of timely treatment. Academic activities of students are affected. Employed professionals are unable to deliver services. Workers fail to get employment.
In a Muslim country like Pakistan, non-Islamic practices have been practiced. All this is unacceptable. Places should be reserved for demonstrations, sit-ins or protests where the gathering of people does not lead to the death of patients. No law allows to disturb the routine life of the people. Conscious and sensible people are the ones who care about others, otherwise the environment of selfishness makes the way.
In this environment, the remarks of the senior judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, have proved to be like the first drop of rain in the drought season. Justice Sahib, while giving remarks regarding road closures during the protest, said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, described the process of road closures as satanic. He explained the situation that occurred during the protest in the federal capital of Islamabad. He wrote in the beginning of his letter on November 8 that these few lines are because the movement of citizens, including me, is obstructed.
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa wrote that human dignity and freedom of movement are fundamental rights of every citizen, like any citizen at his place of work. It is also my fundamental right to reach with ease and similarly to go back home. He said that on November 8, when I was going to the Supreme Court, all the traffic was stopped and on inquiry I was told that route is closed because of President.
It is sad to see people stuck on the streets. This is what happens in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, whose constitution states that all the rule of Allah Almighty is acknowledged before.
Qazi Faiz Isa wrote in his letter that the Supreme Court has given judgments on the violation of fundamental rights by blocking the roads, in which it is clear that gatherings cannot be held on the streets without permission. He said that the right to freedom of expression cannot be used by affecting the fundamental rights of others, the road cannot be used for gatherings for an indefinite period, so the protestors who obstruct the right of people to use the roads should be punished. Justice Qazi Faiz Isa added that it is not only the responsibility of the state to facilitate the gathering of protesters, but the first and foremost responsibility of the state is to protect the fundamental rights of every citizen. The government closes the roads in the name of route of the movement of VIPs, due to which the people have to suffer a lot. The visit of President, Prime Minister, foreign guest etc., becomes a nuisance for people. Everyone curses and abuses the VIP. When a patient is suffering from pain due to a road block, his loved ones cannot express good wishes for the cause. Similarly, placing containers is also interpreted as incompetence of the government.
Undoubtedly, blocking the roads is an act of evil. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan cannot condone any evil act or allow anyone to do it. Instead of blocking the roads, the government and the people have to adopt some other method so that everyone can avoid this evil act. Human dignity and freedom of movement are the rights of everyone. Violation of this right, whether by the government or the people, will be un-Islamic, immoral and illegal.
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The writer is an independent analyst. Sindh Courier received his write up through email.
