PESHAWAR: A Pakistani high court has ruled that the government of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province cannot use official vehicles, machinery, or manpower for political activities, declaring such practices a “blatant misuse of public property and authority.”
The landmark ruling of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) came on a writ petition challenging the deployment of Rescue 1122 machinery, Fire Brigade units, heavy equipment, and government personnel for the KP government’s long march and protest campaign.
In its judgment, the court held that using public resources to participate in or facilitate political gatherings, rallies, or long marches violates fundamental principles of public trust and accountability.
The court noted that state resources, funded by taxpayers, exist solely to perform official duties and serve the public — not to advance partisan objectives.
The PHC observed that such misuse may amount to misconduct and abuse of authority, warning public officials of their constitutional obligations under Articles 4, 5, and 25, which guarantee equality before the law and mandate the faithful discharge of public duties.
Disposing of the petition, the court issued a binding direction prohibiting the KP government from deploying or permitting the use of any official vehicle, machinery, or manpower for political events of any nature.
Significance of the Ruling
Legal experts say the judgment draws a firm constitutional line between governance and political activity, terming it a win for taxpayers who have long objected to the use of public resources for partisan shows of strength.
By invoking constitutional provisions, the court has elevated the issue from a matter of administrative ethics to one of legal misconduct, signalling that using ambulances, fire tenders, rescue trucks, or government convoys for rallies could attract serious consequences.
The ruling also reinforces the neutrality of state institutions. The court held that when rescue or emergency services appear at political events, it undermines public confidence and gives the impression that the state machinery is aligned with a particular party.
Observers note that the judgment exposes the KP government’s past use of official resources in political marches, effectively turning public institutions into partisan tools. The PHC’s ruling now provides opposition parties, civil society, and democratic forces with a clear legal basis to challenge any future attempts to use state machinery for political purposes.
The message from the court is unequivocal. Political activity is permissible, but not at the expense of emergency services, public vehicles, or machinery purchased and maintained with taxpayer money for hospitals, schools, and crisis response.
