ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed in the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) challenging the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices, with a request to direct the federal government to withdraw the hike.
Advocate Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta moved the petition under Article 175E(3) of the Constitution, naming the Government of Pakistan through the Secretary Establishment Division as respondent. The petitioner urged the court to order an immediate reversal of the price increase, which he claimed was implemented under the pretext of the Gulf crisis and directives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The petition further requested the court to direct the government to fix petrol and diesel prices at Rs200 per litre and ensure urgent imports of fuel from Iran through all available channels, including pipelines. It also called for approaching Middle Eastern countries to secure petroleum products at concessional rates, citing Pakistan’s role in providing regional security.
Bhutta argued that authorities frequently attribute inflationary measures to IMF conditions while failing to address alleged inefficiencies and misuse of public funds. He contended that such practices mislead the public and conceal governance shortcomings. The petitioner maintained that the sharp rise in fuel prices has led to a surge in the cost of essential commodities, violating the constitutional guarantee of human dignity under Article 14.
