By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: The Sindh High Court (SHC) Sukkur Bench issued a bailable arrest warrant against the provincial Transport Secretary on Monday, amid growing judicial frustration over delays in making the Rohri Bus Terminal functional and ensuring the safety of national highways in the region.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi and Justice Abdul Hamid Bhurgri, heard petitions filed by citizens and transport stakeholders, including Rahib Malano, Ali Hassan Mastoi, and advocates Sarfraz Akhund, along with officials from the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) Sukkur and the District Regional Transport office (DRT) Khairpur.
The court expressed its displeasure at the absence of the Transport Secretary, noting that only the Additional Secretary had appeared, citing attendance at a cabinet meeting. Justice Sangi questioned whether a cabinet meeting could take precedence over a summons from the High Court. Consequently, the court ordered police to ensure the Secretary’s presence on the next hearing, scheduled for 15 December.
The bench also raised serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of national highways and the ongoing loss of human lives in traffic accidents. Lawyers and officials highlighted recurring safety hazards on the Sukkur City bypass, Mehran Highway, and delays in constructing the M-6 motorway from Sukkur to Hyderabad. Despite bans on heavy vehicles, large trucks continue to traverse unsafe routes, endangering commuters.
Justice Sangi questioned why officials from the National Highway Authority (NHA) had not been named in cases of fatalities and why toll revenue collected from travelers had not translated into road maintenance or safety improvements. He further suggested that inquiries by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) may be necessary, including the possible freezing of NHA accounts.
Officials from the federal communications ministry, DIG Sukkur Faisal Abdullah Chachar, DIG Shaheed Benazirabad, and NHA representatives attended the proceedings, while lawyers emphasized that the public continues to suffer due to administrative negligence and infrastructural shortcomings. The court reserved its decision on broader highway safety issues and adjourned the case until the Secretary appears before the bench.
