LPG Policy: SC disposes of plea against LHC stay order

Supreme Court asks government to approach Lahore High Court for the case.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Monday disposed of the government’s plea to overrule the Lahore High Court (LHC) stay order on the implementation of LPG Production and Distribution Policy 2011.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the policy had been made for ‘personal gains’ and should not be implemented. Quoting a report in The Express Tribune, Justice Chaudhry said if the policy is implemented, prices would skyrocket and create problems for the public.

The court said that it cannot interfere in the matter as an interim stay order has been granted by the LHC, and that any order before that decision will not be appropriate.

The court asked the government to approach the LHC for proper remedy.

The Lahore High Court on September 29 had granted a stay in a case challenging implementation of the LPG Production and Distribution Policy 2011, which the industry termed “controversial”.

The suspended policy made it mandatory for LPG companies to purchase 20% of their supplies from LPG importers and brokers along with paying petroleum levy, a type of tax, on the product.