Daily Times

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday rejected a government request to suspend hearing of a petition against the recent hike in petroleum prices.

A two-member bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal, heard the petition filed by Iqbal Kazmi against the hike in petroleum prices. The bench expressed dissatisfaction over the federal government and the Petroleum Ministry’s failure to submit a reply.

The bench remarked that it had become a problem for the court to get a reply from Islamabad. “The court had sought a reply on another petition, but the federal government only submitted the reply after the court issued arrest warrants of the secretary,” Justice Mazhar remarked.

“The people in Islamabad do not pay any attention to notices from the Sindh High Court (SHC). Should the bench summon the Petroleum secretary?” the bench remarked.

The deputy attorney general told the bench that he had talked to the Petroleum Ministry, which had given its reply. “They have replied that the petroleum price formula is a policy matter,” he said.

The bench stated that the deputy attorney general should give his answer in writing.

The bench rejected the government counsel’s request to postpone the hearing of the petition. “We will announce the verdict if the federal government does not submit its reply by June 14,” the bench stated.

“Ask the Petroleum Ministry about the reason behind non-submission of a reply in this petition,” Justice Mazhar instructed the counsel.

Petitioner Iqbal Kazmi said that the Petroleum Ministry, the federal government and other parties had been asked to provide details for the mechanism for the hike in petroleum prices. “Petroleum prices will again be increased on June 1,” he said.