PESHAWAR
\nPolitical parties, legal experts, and civil society organisations on Friday welcomed the Peshawar High Court\u2019s (PHC) landmark verdict barring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from using Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government machinery for political activities.
\nThe division bench ruling was widely described as a significant move to safeguard democratic fairness, uphold rule of law, and prevent the misuse of taxpayer-funded resources by the ruling party for political gains.
\nPeople from diverse walks of life including members of opposition parties, lawyers, media professionals, local government representatives, and ordinary citizens praised the judgment, saying it strengthens the principles of transparency, accountability, and neutral governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
\nThe PHC bench comprising Justice Shahibzada Asadullah Khan and Justice Khurshid Iqbal on Friday imposed a categorical ban on the use of provincial government resources, including official vehicles and machinery, for any personal or political purpose.
\nThe judges ruled that such actions constituted \u201cmisconduct and abuse of authority,\u201d and reiterated that the state\u2019s administrative apparatus must remain insulated from partisan activities.
\n\u201cThis court is of the view that the use of official vehicles, machinery, or any other government resources for participation in, or facilitation of, political gatherings, protest rallies, or long marches constitutes a blatant misuse of public property and authority,\u201d the judgment stated.
\nOpposition leader in the KP Assembly, Dr Ebad Khan, praised the ruling, calling it \u201ca victory for democracy and the rule of law.\u201d
\n\u201cNo party whether in power or not should have access to government or state facilities for political gains,\u201d he remarked, urging all political actors to respect the separation between governance and electoral mobilisation.
\nLegal expert Malik Ashfaq Advocate also lauded the historic decision, arguing that it clearly defines the boundaries between Govt obligations and party activities.
\nHe alleged that previous PTI-led administrations had relied on KP Govt machinery during public gatherings and long marches, and urged PTI leadership to apologise to the public for what he termed misuse of government assets in the past.
\nHe further called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure full and strict implementation of the PHC\u2019s directives in upcoming political campaigns, saying such oversight is essential to ensuring a level playing field for all parties.
\nThe division bench emphasised that misuse of public resources not only violates public trust but also weakens the foundation of neutral and impartial governance.
\n\u201cPublic resources, including official vehicles and heavy machinery, are procured and maintained from the public exchequer for the sole purpose of performing official duties and providing services to citizens in accordance with law,\u201d the order said.
\nIt added that diverting these resources for political or extraneous purposes \u201cundermines the sanctity of public office and shakes public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the administration.\u201d
\nThe court made it clear that no public officeholder is permitted to deploy government assets for partisan or personal activities.
\nCiting Articles 4, 5, and 25 of the Constitution pertaining to lawful treatment of individuals, loyalty to the state, and equality of citizens. The verdict stressed that the use of public resources by any single party or individual inherently disadvantages others and is therefore illegal and unconstitutional.
\n\u201cIn a democratic system governed by the rule of law, the state must maintain strict separation between official functions and political activities,\u201d the order read.
\n\u201cThe use of government vehicles or personnel in political events conveys an impression of state endorsement or complicity in partisan matters, which is impermissible.\u201d
\nThe court directed the KP government to ensure that no official vehicle, machinery, or manpower under their control is deployed, used, or permitted to be used for any protest, long march, rally, or political activity of any nature.
\nThe case originated from a petition filed last November, challenging the KP government then led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for allegedly deploying government vehicles, including fire engines and heavy machinery, during the PTI\u2019s long march to Islamabad.
\nThe petition claimed that KP government officials and resources from the local government department were mobilised to support the march, during which protesters gathered at D-Chowk demanding the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, among other demands.
\nThe PHC\u2019s ruling, observers say, sets an important precedent reinforcing the constitutional boundary between political mobilisation and state authority.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Political parties, legal experts, and civil society organisations on Friday welcomed the Peshawar High Court\u2019s (PHC) landmark verdict barring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from using Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government machinery for political activities. The division bench ruling was widely described as a significant move to safeguard democratic fairness, uphold rule of law, and prevent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":345315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-514545","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n