LHC requested to halt petroleum price increase

Federal government increased the price of petrol by Rs25.58 per litre

LAHORE: A writ petition challenging the fresh increase in prices of the petroleum products was filed in the Lahore High Court on Saturday.

The petitioner, Qayyum Aslam Khan, cited as respondents the federal government through the petroleum secretary, and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority through its chairperson.

In his petition, filed through Advocate Muhammad Saim Chaudhry, the petitioner stated that that respondents had issued a notification wherein the federal government had increased the price of petrol by Rs25.58 per litre, high speed diesel by Rs21.31, kerosene by Rs23.50 and light diesel by Rs17.84 with immediate effect.

He implored the court that the hike in petroleum products’ prices was tantamount to putting a huge burden on the people, which would also increase inflation. The people of Pakistan were already in distress due to Covid-19 but the government had increased the fuel prices on the recommendation of the petroleum division, he stated, alleging that the move was unlawful.

He challenged the legality of the notification. It was against the fundamental rights and the spirit of the constitution, he claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2020.