Fuel price hike enabled mafia to make billion: LHC

The Lahore High Court on Thursday observed that the exorbitant increase in the prices of petroleum products on June 26 instead of the start of the month had apparently enabled the fuel mafia to make profits worth billions of rupees.

LHC Chief Justice Qasim Khan also sought names from Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan for a commission that would investigate the recent petrol crisis in the country. The judge added that the court would suggest names itself if the ones suggested by the AGP were unsatisfactory.

The court was hearing a petition on the unavailability of fuel across the country because of hoarding and the subsequent price hike of petroleum prices.

The LHC chief justice noted that the AGP was directed to ask the National Assembly speaker whether a committee was being formed to investigate into the matter or not.

“You were asked to bring forth a clear policy,” the judge said while addressing the AGP. "You have not told the court what action was taken against those responsible for the crisis."

The law officer responded that he had met the speaker on the court’s directives.

“The speaker has decided to put the matter before the prime minister and opposition leader in the National Assembly," he added.

The LHC chief justice observed that it appeared as if some “big leagues” were involved in the petrol crisis.
“It seems the oil mafia created an artificial shortage of petrol to benefit from it,” he noted.
“The government increases the prices of petroleum products on the first of each month, but by raising the prices on June 26, it enabled the petroleum mafia to make billions of rupees,” he added. “The crisis cannot be controlled until those behind it are caught.”

The judge also noted that the principal secretary in his written reply seemed to have created a “web of words”.
"When did action to end the petrol crisis begin? When was the matter brought to the prime minister's knowledge?" he asked the principal secretary.

The AGP submitted a report containing recommendations to the court. "My personal suggestions are before the court,” he said. “If the court wishes to make changes in these, it may do so.”
The court sought names from the AGP for a commission that would investigate into the crisis.

The LHC chief justice said he wanted competent people to be members of the commission.
If the names suggested by the AGP are unsatisfactory, then the court will suggest names, he added.
“If attempts are made to conceal any official records, strict action will be taken,” the judge warned.

The chairperson of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) also appeared before the court.
Last month, the federal government increased the price of petrol by Rs25.58 per litre for the month of July in line with the hike in global crude oil prices. According to a notification issued by the Finance Division, the price of petrol was increased from Rs74.52 to Rs100.10 per litre.

The price hike was preceded by a fuel shortage across the country, and on June 30, the PTI government announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the crisis on the directives of PM Imran. The committee was tasked with presenting its findings before the prime minister by July 10.