Court Bans Govt Vehicles in Political Rallies

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday barred government employees and official vehicles from taking part in any political party’s rallies, protests, long marches, or similar activities, ruling that such participation amounts to “misconduct.”

The decision was issued by a two-judge bench consisting of Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Dr. Khurshid Iqbal while hearing a petition submitted by Jawad Ali. Advocate Intikhab Chamkani appeared on behalf of the petitioner.

In his petition, Ali claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had been utilizing state vehicles and other public resources during various political demonstrations. He argued that this practice burdened the public exchequer and effectively turned taxpayer-funded assets into tools for political campaigning. The court was also given lists of official vehicles that were allegedly used for these purposes.

According to the petition, such conduct not only amounted to misuse of state assets but also diverted government resources from their intended duties. It further alleged that political party workers had been openly treating these vehicles as if they were their own during recent protests.

Justice Asadullah, authoring the court’s written order, noted that the bench had examined both the petitioner’s concerns and the documents presented regarding the vehicles in question.

Representing the provincial government, the Assistant Advocate General contended that the lists provided were inaccurate and that the PTI-led provincial administration had not allocated state resources for political activities. He maintained that any government employees participating in rallies were doing so privately and not in official vehicles.

The court stressed that in a functioning democracy, all public institutions must remain within their constitutional boundaries. It stated that any entity funded by taxpayers cannot be allowed to serve the interests of a political party, regardless of which party is in power. Public resources, the court said, must remain dedicated to public service.

After reviewing the arguments, the bench considered measures to prevent future misuse of official assets. The ruling noted that transparency and lawful conduct are essential expectations of a democratic government and disposed of the petition accordingly.

In its directive, the court instructed administrative officers across the province to ensure that no government vehicle, employee, or resource is used for political gatherings or demonstrations. The judgment warned that such actions constitute misconduct and could lead to serious consequences for the officials involved.

With these observations, the writ petition was formally concluded.