Gas utility challenges court order. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The gas utility on Tuesday challenged a local court order on restoration of gas supply to filling stations in the Potohar region, including the twin cities.
Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had allowed supply of gas to filling stations last week staying suspension of gas in Rawalpindi-Islamabad and Potohar region on a petition filed by 77 owners.
However, the Sui Northern Gas (SNGPL) in an intra-court appeal challenged the single judge verdict.
The company’s counsel Khawaja Farooq maintained that it is difficult for the company to supply gas to CNG stations during peak winter season.
He argued that the government had taken the decision to suspend supply of gas to filling stations to facilitate domestic consumers. “If we start supplying gas to CNG stations, the pressure for domestic consumers will drop drastically,” he stated while requesting the court to set-aside the single bench order.
Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi meanwhile, disagreed with the company’s counsel and issued notices to the respondents and sought their reply till December 26.
It is noted that the single bench, in its detailed order, had directed the government to restore the previous schedule of gas supply to filling stations in the region and noted that the station owners’ demand was not unreasonable as all the provinces have allowed CNG stations to operate, at least, for three days a week.
Earlier the owners had contended that the sudden decision of the government to suspend supply to gas stations is tantamount to “killing of thousands of workers who are associated with the business.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2013.
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