PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Saturday issued notices to the federal government, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), and other relevant parties in a petition challenging the increase in petroleum product prices.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Farah Jamshed heard the case.
During the hearing, Advocate Ahmad Farooq Khattak, representing petitioner Syed Taimur Ali Shah, argued before the court that the federal government and other authorities had imposed a massive increase in petroleum prices on April 2, resulting in rising inflation across the country.
The counsel contended that petroleum prices in Pakistan were among the highest in the world and significantly higher than in neighbouring countries.
He pleaded that while government officials continued to enjoy free fuel and other privileges, the masses were being burdened with high costs.
The petitioner prayed the court to issue orders abolishing free petroleum facilities and privileges for government officials and argued that the government had also increased petroleum levies.
The lawyer maintained that although the government collected taxes from the people, it failed to provide adequate relief in return. He prayed the court to declare the increase in petroleum prices null and void.
Following the hearing, the bench issued a written order directing the federal government, OGRA and other relevant respondents to submit replies within 14 days.
The court also ordered that another petition of a similar nature challenging fuel price hikes be clubbed together with the present case and heard jointly at the next hearing.
