KARACHI: A division bench, headed by Justice Umer Sial dismissed petition for urgent hearing challenges increase in the prices of all petroleum products by up to 27pc to 66 pc through unusual procedure or any summary proposed by the OGRA by the federal government.
On 1 July 2020, senior counsel Molvi Iqbal advocate argued that matter belongs to public important, therefore, court may hear his petition, however, court observed that due to corona virus situation, this bench hears only urgent basis matters, therefore, urgent petition is dismissed.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner submitted that the government on June 26, 2020 decided to increase the prices of all petroleum products by up to 27pc to 66pc through unusual procedure, it is pertinent to mention here the government in its sole discretion superseded rules and regulations and suddenly the government issued impugned notification effected from June 27, 2020 in this regard all the electronic media telecasted the news regarding impugned notification and the dealers of petroleum products immediately enhanced the prices of petroleum.
He submitted that as per news the step took many by surprise because it was out of schedule and was not prompted by any summary moved by the oil sector regulator, which in the normal procedure.
He argued that most observers agreed that the step has been taken to address ongoing supply chain disruptions that have led to serious shortages in many parts of the country, in large part due to a pricing dispute between the government and the industry.
Citing chairman FBR, chairman OGRA, secretary of finance, secretary of Petroleum and others , petitioner pleaded the court to declare that increase of petroleum products without placing before the parliament is unjust, unfair, arbitrary and seems to deprives the chosen representative elected by the people of Pakistan. Thus the increase in petroleum prices have no legal sanctity and unconstitutional.
