IHC extends stay on additional motorway toll

NHA tells court it has started implementing order against 50% extra toll collection

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday extended its order restraining the National Highway Authority (NHA) from collecting 50 per cent additional toll tax from non-MTag users or vehicles with insufficient balance on motorways.

The order was issued during the hearing of a petition challenging additional toll collections and penalties on motorways before Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir.

Petitioner's counsel Jalal Haider and NHA's counsel Raheem Khan appeared before the court. During the hearing, the NHA submitted para-wise comments in response to the petition.

The court asked the petitioner's counsel whether he had received a copy of the NHA's comments. The lawyer replied that he had just received it and had not yet been able to review it.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir then asked the NHA's counsel whether the authority had implemented the court's order.

The counsel informed the court that implementation had started and that additional toll tax and penalties were no longer being collected.

The NHA counsel requested that another similar case pending before the court be clubbed with the current petition. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir observed that the matter was already in the court's knowledge and said both cases were separate.

The court extended its order preventing additional collections by the NHA and sought arguments before adjourning further hearing of the case.