The division bench of Justice Irshad Qaiser and Justice Muhammad Younis Thaheem issued the notice while hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Aminul Hassan, through his counsel Mumtazur Rehman.
The petitioner sought an increase in the number of flights to Chitral and reduced airfare.
The counsel for the petitioner told the court there were three flights a day to Chitral up till 2008 and PIA was charging Rs2,210 at the time. Ticket prices were kept low because Chitral remained inaccessible by road for six months of the year due to heavy snowfall.
He added Chitral falls under Malakand Division, a tax-free zone, so the cost of flights was nominal. He further contended the only way to get to Chitral by road was through the Lowari Tunnel, which remained closed during winter.
Rehman pointed out to the court that the cost of flying to Karachi from Peshawar is Rs7,477, cheaper than the ticket to Chitral, despite the fact that the port city is further away than the valley.
The bench was further informed that business in Chitral was affected by snowfall and residents needed to be treated as per Article 4 (Right of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with law, etc) of the Constitution.
The court was requested to reduce the cost of flights to the prices of 2007. The petitioner also sought an increase in the number of flights to Chitral from different cities of the country.
After hearing the preliminary arguments of the petitioner, the court directed the PIA chairman to submit his comments before the next date of hearing and explain his position.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2014.
COMMENTS (4)
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@Amin: Though we trust very least in judiciary of Pakistan, millions of people including you and Fardad Sahab crying for it in D chowk since August for the same. Still we appreciate your struggle. If efforts are made with pure and sincere intentions, Allah (SWT) is always there to help. Everyone should come forward to rescue the people of Chitral at best of his capacity. Desire of popularity in poor and meager population of Chitral is simply a nonsense wish. GOOD LUCK
@ Amin I pray and hope so. Wish you best of luck. With you on this issue.
@Fardad Ali Shah: Sir I am here to inform your honor that no order was issued by the court regarding Lawari Tunnel. The rumor was spread to earn cheap publicity. If for a moment we suppose that it was issued by the court, then it was the duty of the petitioner to pursue the case. Now this petition is made to serve the people with real spirit. You just pray we will succeed and win insha Allah
The high court issues notices but does bother about what happens to the notice. Last year the same high court issued orders to the NHA to open the Lowari tunnel on daily basis but the NHA instead of honouring the order further reduced the opening days from 3 days a week to two days. Only the poor and helpless people are left to obey the judiciary. Not the govt or it's institutions. No wonder Judiciary has lost it's esteem in the eyes of the people.