On September 18, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to address the issue of disrupted mobile phone signals at court premises due to signal jammers installed near the central prison. The court emphasized the difficulties this disruption causes for lawyers and litigants, urging for a balanced resolution that maintains both security and communication needs.
A bench comprising PHC Chief Justice S.M Attique Shah and Justice Mohammad Ijaz Khan instructed the provincial Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Mohammad Abid Majeed to collaborate with stakeholders to devise a strategy that ensures the restoration of telecommunications, while also addressing the security challenges posed by high-risk inmates at the nearby prison. Majeed is expected to submit a detailed report following a stakeholder meeting scheduled for the same day.
The directive came during the hearing of a petition filed by the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA), which highlighted the prolonged suspension of mobile signals at the Judicial Complex. This suspension has notably affected the legal proceedings and the day-to-day operations of the courts. The court also took note of a strike by lawyers protesting the issue.
Majeed, in his briefing to the court, revealed that the jammers were initially installed to prevent high-risk criminals, including convicted terrorists, from communicating with external networks. Despite these security measures, unintended disruptions have also impacted the adjacent court areas, complicating legal processes.
Chief Justice Shah stressed the importance of ensuring access to justice for all, particularly for those who travel from remote areas and rely on timely communication with their legal representatives. He highlighted the adverse effects on litigants who might face case dismissals or unnecessary delays due to the inability to contact their lawyers.
The court has called for an urgent and thoughtful resolution to this matter, balancing the imperative of security with the fundamental rights to communication and fair legal representation. The stakeholders, including representatives from the legal community and prison authorities, are expected to present a joint strategy to resolve the signal disruption while maintaining stringent security at the prison.
