Peshawar High Court on Thursday instructed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa additional chief secretary home and tribal affairs to take immediate measures to resolve mobile phone signal disruptions on court premises, which have arisen due to the installation of signal jammers at the nearby central prison. The bench, led by Chief Justice S.M Attique Shah and Justice Mohammad Ijaz Khan, directed ACS Mohammad Abid Majeed to submit a detailed report of a meeting scheduled with all stakeholders to ensure an amicable resolution. The hearing followed a petition filed by Peshawar High Court Bar Association highlighting the adverse impact of the signal disruptions on litigants and legal practitioners.
The bench expressed concern over the challenges faced by lawyers and litigants, particularly in Judicial Complex, where disrupted connectivity has hindered timely communications. ACS Abid Majeed briefed the court that a meeting had been arranged with representatives from KP Bar Council, PHCBA, and Peshawar Bar Association to discuss possible solutions. He emphasized that mutual consultation and deliberation with all parties could provide a balanced outcome addressing both security requirements and the legitimate concerns of the legal community. The court scheduled the next hearing for Friday to review the report and minutes of the stakeholder meeting.
During the proceedings, ACS Majeed explained that high-risk and high-profile convicts, including those affiliated with proscribed organizations, are housed in three central prisons in Peshawar, Mardan, and Haripur. Despite stringent security protocols, some inmates gained unauthorized access to mobile phones, using them to communicate with outside contacts to potentially facilitate unlawful activities. To curb this, the home and tribal affairs department partnered with National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) to install signal jammers at prison facilities. However, this step inadvertently affected telecommunication signals in surrounding areas, including court premises, creating disruptions that prompted complaints from the legal fraternity.
The bench acknowledged the importance of maintaining prison security while emphasizing the adverse effects of signal disruption on access to justice. Observing that underprivileged litigants face hardships when unable to communicate with their counsels, the court highlighted the potential for delays, missed hearings, or unintended case dismissals. ACS Majeed, along with Inspector General of Prisons Usman Masood, superintendent of Peshawar Central Prison Najam, KP advocate general Shah Faisal Uthmankhel, and additional advocate general Inam Khan Yousafzai, appeared before the bench to address these concerns. The court underscored that any solution must preserve fair access to legal representation while ensuring security protocols for high-risk inmates. It directed the ACS to provide a comprehensive report including signed minutes from the stakeholder meeting, detailing the steps to restore mobile and internet connectivity on court premises.
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