LHC moved against petroleum price hike

Petitioner seeks removal of petroleum minister, demands detailed explanation of production and import costs.

LAHORE: A petition was filed on Thursday in the Lahore High Court challenging the petroleum price hike and seeking the removal of petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain.

The petition, filed by Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique, states that Hussain has failed to devise a strategy to control petroleum prices. It lists as respondents the government of Pakistan through the petroleum secretary, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The petitioner prayed that the respondents should be directed to give details about the method of determination for revising prices of petroleum products vis-a-vis the cost of production and supply, including different levies, duties and taxes and the disbursement of above collections to different heads.

He has also requested that the price increase be stayed. “Under the constitution, the government is bound to give relief to the people but it is increasing petroleum prices by choice. The government is receiving billions of rupees in taxes and duties from people which are not being spent for welfare of the public,” he said.

He also alleged that the government was shifting burden to the common man deliberately without informing the people how much petroleum it is purchasing from other countries and how much tax is being paid out of it. He said that the court should also note that petroleum prices in the international market are witnessing a falling trend but it is increasing in our country.