SC to hear gas distribution case

SC accepts petition to hear case for equal distribution of natural gas to provinces.

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday accepted a petition to hear the case for equal distribution of natural gas to the provinces, and issued a notice to the attorney general in this regard.

The case was petitioned by industrialists from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab who wanted the matter to be decided by the judiciary.

A bench headed by Justice Tassaduq Jillani recommended a plea to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, for the formation of larger bench to hear the case.

Talking to the Express 24/7, the petitioners’ counsel, Salman Raja said that Article 158 of the constitution states that a province, where a gas wellhead is situated, will have precedence over other provinces.

He also said that Punjab is the only province with a gas deficit province - on the basis of the connections granted - while the other provinces have a surplus of the natural resource.