A large number of gas stations remained shut in Hazara on Saturday in violation of the Supreme Court’s (SC) order to supply Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at reduced rates.
Call to close down the stations was given by All Pakistan CNG Owners Association in response to SC’s fresh order of retaining the reduced prices of gas fuel till November 19. Most of the gas station had closed down on Friday.
Shortage of gas fuel hampered public transport and sparked protests in different areas of Abbottabad, Mansehra and Haripur. Angry locals and transporters ransacked the City CNG Station on Mansehra Road, which led the station owner to close up shop for some time, demanding security from the district administration.
The administration told the station owner to supply gas at the new rates to avoid protest.
While some public transporters resorted to using the costlier diesel and petrol fuels and charged high fares from commuters, others whose vehicles only ran on gas could not ply their vehicles. Moreover, transporters plying vehicles on both inter and intra-city routes were found charging commuters according to the old fare list.
“When the station owners are not willing to supply gas at the new rates, how can we charge commuters according to the new fare list,” said Shamsur Rehman, a pickup driver. He claimed that while majority of the station owners have closed down, those still operating are supplying gas at reduced pressure, causing loss to consumers.
Meanwhile, two journalists an Abbottabad-based lawyer Kamran and filled complaints with the Consumer Court against the gas station owners for refusing to supply gas fuel to the people. District judge Arshad Khan served notices to the station owners and sought their replies by November 5.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2012.
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