In a second petition challenging the increase in petroleum prices, the Sindh High Court was asked to declare the price hike as illegal.
The petitioner, lawyer Abid Hussain, also asked the court to order the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to take back the decision. Hussain said that Ogra announces the increase in POL prices under a formula which is known only to itself. Ogra has no legal authority to determine POL prices on the basis of this formula and is bound under the Constitution to place it before parliament, he said.
In turn, parliament shall pass a bill into law,allowing Ogra to implement the formula for price determination. Unless this is done, the rise in prices announced every month is a great injustice to the people of Pakistan.
According to Hussain, every time prices are raised, they give rise to an increase in the prices of essential commodities,affecting everyone, even those who do not possess any vehicle.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 03rd, 2011.
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