PHC orders to remove mobile towers near residential areas

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) bench on Wednesday directed to mobile network companies to remove mobile towers in one month from residential areas of Peshawar.

Two members bench of PHC consisting Justice Qaiser Rasheed and Justice Abdul Shakoor heard the case.

The petitioner Muhammad Naeem his lawyers Noor Alam Khan, Additional Advocate General Saeed Sikander Shah and PTA representative Jawad, mobile network companies Lawyers Farooq Afridi and Muhammad Baber were present in the court.

 During hearing Director General APA doctor Basheer has said to court that according to survey of 366 mobile towers, 20 towers is not well for people health. The discharging radiation of the towers is harmful for the health which is installed 25 feet distance to residential areas. In those towers 46 are installed near the schools, 55 are near to the mosques and other 196 towers is present in inhabitants areas.

He further mentioned that before 2009 NOC was not needed for the installment of the Mobile Towers while mostly towers were installed before 2009. After 2009 NOC was declared must by Khyber Pakthunkhwa government for the installment of the mobile towers and KP government have also make strict laws for mobile towers.

He added that those towers which near the school and mosques having distance upto 100 meters is not harmful to the health because international radiation council have also issued statements this regard.

Justice Qaiser Rasheed has given his remarks during hearing that those towers will remove which discharging harmful radiation for human being while Dr.Rasheed Replied that only 20 towers would removed which is near up to eight meters to inhabitants.

Mobile company representative plead  in court during hearing and said that when the towers was installed at time there was less residents in many areas, that towers would be not removed.

The bench replied that nothing is important than human lives and have given example of Karachi anti encroachment drive in which the government demolish forty years old illegal buildings in the city. 

The bench ordered to remove all those towers in one month which is discharging injurious waves for the residents and submit full report to the court.