ISLAMABAD: Protests and road closures in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have caused court hearings to be postponed, with cases adjourned without proceedings.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests, increased police deployment, and blocked roads prevented authorities from transporting detainees from Adiala Jail to local courts on Monday, according to Express News.
Due to these security duties, detainees scheduled for court appearances could not be brought to sessions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
In the absence of detainees, multiple cases in civil and sessions courts across both cities were deferred without hearings, and new dates are being issued for these cases.
The High Court Bar president assured that neither defendants nor plaintiffs would face penalties for missing court due to roadblocks. A formal application has been submitted to high and district courts, explaining how road closures have hindered access to court premises.
A jail police official confirmed that Adiala Jail will not be transferring detainees for court appearances, while local courts continue to reschedule cases without hearings.
The protests and roadblocks have significantly disrupted judicial operations and public access to court services in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Additionally, road closures at entry and exit points to Lahore and other cities have severely disrupted the supply chain, leading to a sharp rise in the prices of perishable goods like fruits and vegetables.
The transport of essential commodities to Lahore has been hampered, resulting in shortages and price hikes. While district administration records reflected only minor effects on prices, on-ground realities revealed over 100% overcharging on perishable goods on Sunday.
Vendors disregarded official price lists, citing restricted transportation as the reason for inflated prices.
Farmers, unable to transport produce to markets due to roadblocks, left crops in the fields, struggling to recover basic costs.
These restrictions not only disrupted the supply chain but also discouraged farmers from harvesting produce, worsening fresh produce shortages in urban markets across Punjab.
The impact of the crisis was evident in soaring prices of essentials, leaving consumers struggling to afford basic items.
Vendors, citing supply challenges and dwindling stocks, defended the inflated rates.
