IHC orders de-sealing of tandoors

Court also directed DC and nanbais to determine consensus price of roti and naan through consultation

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered the release of nanbais immediately and the de-sealing of their tandoors. The court also directed the Deputy Commissioner and the representatives of nanbais to determine the consensus price of roti and naan through consultation.

Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, who heard the petition, remarked that the tandoor owners and workers face scorching heat in the summer to prepare roti, we need to take care of the interests of the poor.

During the hearing of the petition filed by the president of the Nanbai Association, the petitioner's lawyer Barrister Umar Ejaz Gillani argued that the notification of new prices of roti should be suspended. He said that the tandoor owners have been arrested and their tandoors have been sealed. The lawyer sought the court’s intervention and release of nanbais.

The counsel representing the state argued that there was previously a wheat crisis, but now there was an excess of wheat and the flour price had decreased by Rs1,000 due to a surplus. However, when the flour price increased the tandoors immediately raised their prices, but didn’t bother to reduce the prices when the prices of flour decreased.

Justice Jahangiri remarked that the roti price wasn’t a problem for the rich, who were not even aware of the current prices, but the court needed to consider the interests of the poor tandoor owners.

After hearing arguments, the judge ordered both parties to sit together and determine the new prices through consultation by noon on Saturday and submit a report within three days.

Published in The Express Tribune May 11^th, 2024.