Rejecting the report compiled by the National Highway Authority (NHA) on the dilapidated condition of NA-25, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday directed the Authority to submit reports on the repair and maintenance of all highways in the country and the number of accidents, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmad, heard the case.

During the hearing, the CJP asked Member Admin NHA Shahid Ihsan about proper spending of the funds given to the Authority. “NHA has failed to do quality work on any of the highways as evident by their condition after rain,” the CJP said, and added he had learnt that corruption was rife in the department.

CJP Gulzar remarked that due to the ‘negligence’ of the NHA, people were dying in accidents on the roads. “The blood of these people is on NHA officials’ hands,” he said, and added that corruption was so rampant in the department that petrol pumps, hotels and shops had been given on lease to different people on the lands meant for the highways.

Member Admin NHA Shahid Ihsan assured the court that condition of the roads would improve towards the end of the ongoing year.

The CJP also pointed out that there were no trees on the roadsides. “Contractors in the NHA are busy making money,” he remarked.

Quoting figures from 2018, he said 12, 894 road accidents took place in that year in which 5, 932 people had lost their lives.

Quoting latest figures, Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, on the occasion, remarked that 36, 000 people had lost their lives in road accidents only this year.

Later, CJP Gulzar adjourned hearing of the case for an indefinite time period.

 

Reporter Amanat Gishkori