PESHAWAR (MNN); The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday prohibited the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government from using official resources, including vehicles and machinery, for personal or political purposes.
According to the court order, the use of government vehicles without proper authorization constitutes “misconduct and abuse of authority.” The PHC emphasized that employing official vehicles, heavy machinery, or personnel for political rallies, long marches, or other partisan events amounts to a blatant misuse of public resources and undermines the principle of neutral governance.
“Public resources are procured and maintained from the public exchequer solely for performing official duties and providing services to citizens. Using them for political purposes, directly or indirectly, undermines public trust and the impartiality of the administration,” the court noted.
The order highlighted Articles 4, 5, and 25 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality of citizens and loyalty to the state, asserting that no individual or political party can exploit government resources to the detriment of others.
“In a democratic system governed by law, the state must maintain a strict separation between official duties and political activities. Using government vehicles or personnel for political events conveys an impression of state endorsement, which is impermissible,” the PHC added.
The court directed the KP government to ensure that no official vehicles, machinery, or manpower are used for protests, rallies, long marches, or political activities of any kind.
The ruling follows a petition filed last November against the KP government, led by then-Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, which alleged that government resources, including fire engines and heavy machinery, were mobilized to support the PTI’s long march to Islamabad. During the march, PTI supporters gathered at D-Chowk demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan, leading to clashes with security forces and the eventual retreat of protesters from the Red Zone.
