Issuing notices to the federal government, the Ministry of Petroleum and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed all respondents named in yet another petition filed against hike in the prices of petroleum products (POL) to submit their replies in writing by next hearing of the petition, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

The court, however, directed the petitioner to withdraw the name of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had also been nominated as a respondent in the case. 

Justice Shahid Kareem of the LHC heard the petition filed by Judicial Activism Panel through Advocate Azhar Siddique. 

Speaking on the occasion, the petitioner’s counsel said that there was no mechanism for increase in the POL prices. 

He further said that already a two-member bench of the LHC was seized with the hearing of a petition related to the levy of sales tax on petroleum products. “This matter is purely of public interest. Therefore, the court is requested to look into it,” Advocate Siddique said.

He was of the view that the OGRA was not authorized to suggest increase in prices in the absence of a mechanism. “Therefore, it is prayed to the court to declare government’s decision of hike in POL prices as null and void,” he requested.  

It is pertinent to mention here that the coalition government has increased the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs60 per liter just in a week.    

Reporter: Malik Ashraf