some people were making exorbitant profit and the provincial government had failed to control prices of essential commodities. PHOTO: lhc.gov.pk
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought a comprehensive report from the government about steps taken to control hoarding, black marketing and profiteering by traders during the month of Ramazan.
Petitioner’s lawyer Azhar Siddique said he apprehended hoarding of edibles ahead of Ramazan.
He said that the government was making excuses to cover up its mismanagement and failure in combating the hoarding and price hike.
Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan remarked that the court wanted to know why concrete steps had not been taken to control the price hike.
The petitioner said that some people were making exorbitant profit and the provincial government had failed to control prices of essential commodities.
He said provision of basic commodities at reasonable rates was a constitutional duty of the government.
He said wheat, maize, sugar, fruits and vegetables were basic necessities and their demand was likely to increase during Ramazan.
However, he said, the government was unable to control prices of these goods.
He held the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister responsible for the current crisis and said they should be prosecuted for the glaring violation of their constitutional obligations.
The court will resume hearing by July 9.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2013.
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Dumb, dumb, dumb! This is not the work of the judiciary. There are tens of thousand of unheard and unresolved cases in the courts and meanwhile the judiciary are on a trip of their own - whatever gets them maximum seeking publicity.
What if the government is unable to prevent hoarding, black marketing etc.? What will the court do? Why take up cases in which the judges are not supported by economists who know how the market forces work.