AGP calls NA speaker to discuss LHC order on petrol crisis

Lahore High Court suggested formation of parliamentarians’ committee to probe the issue

ISLAMABAD:

Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan called on National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Sunday to discuss the Lahore High Court (LHC) June 30 order regarding the recent shortage of petrol in the country.

 Khan briefed Qaiser about the LHC observation in detail.

 The speaker maintained that the parliament always held the judiciary in high esteem and respected its decisions.

 He noted that a report had already been sought from the NA Standing Committee on Energy regarding the shortage of petroleum products and rise in their prices.

 Qaiser stated that the elected representatives take up issues related to their constituencies in the assembly and added that the issue of shortage of petrol and problems faced by the people was raised in the NA budget session both by the government and opposition benches.

 He said the parliament had in the past played an important role and would continue to do on public issues.

 On Tuesday, LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan suggested the NA speaker to constitute a committee comprising parliamentarians from the treasury and opposition to probe into the recent shortage of petrol in the country.

 The LHC chief justice asked the AGP to discuss the court’s suggestion with the NA speaker.

 He observed that the court wanted the parliament to do the job on its own, otherwise, the law would take its course and no official, if found guilty, would be spared.

 The chief justice directed the attorney general to assist the court on the next hearing, if the speaker did not form a committee, whether a commission under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) would be appropriate to hold an investigation into the fuel crisis.

 The chief justice was hearing a petition seeking action against the authorities concerned for their alleged failure to overcome the petrol shortage.

 The hearing of the case was adjourned until July 9.