The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday disposed of a petition challenging the new solar net metering policy introduced by the Federal government and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), after considering the replies submitted by the concerned authorities. Justice Abid Hussain Chattha heard the petition filed by citizen Syed Azhar Hussain Shah and others, in which the federal government, NEPRA, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), and other relevant bodies were named as respondents. During the hearing, counsel for the federal government informed the court that the petitioner has been a net metering consumer of LESCO since 2022 and that the newly introduced net metering regulations do not apply to existing consumers. The court was told that the new policy would only be applicable to future applicants. The counsel representing NEPRA stated that several recommendations regarding solar net metering have been forwarded to the federal government and that different aspects of the policy are currently under review. After hearing arguments from all sides and in view of the responses submitted by the federal government and NEPRA, the court disposed of the petition The petitioners’ had argued that the government had reneged on its commitment to provide unit-for-unit compensation, placing the future of citizens who invested heavily in solar energy systems at risk. The petitioners had sought directions from the court to maintain the previous net metering policy and to immediately suspend the implementation of the new regulations.
Human Smuggling Case
Separately, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday dismissed the bail application of Yasir Mahmood, an accused in a human smuggling case linked to a boat tragedy near Italy that claimed the lives of at least 40 people. LHC Chief Justice Justice Aalia Neelum heard the application filed by the accused. Counsel for the complainant, Malik Suhail Khalid and Chaudhry Imran Nasir Sandhu, opposed the bail plea, while defence counsel argued that the accused had been in jail for the past 15 months. The defence contended that although the case was registered in 2024, the challan had not yet been submitted to the court, seeking bail on this ground. Opposing the plea, the complainant’s counsel argued that the accused is involved in multiple human smuggling cases. They maintained that he allegedly collected large sums of money from several individuals on the pretext of sending them to Italy by air but instead sent them on a perilous sea journey. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), they added, found the accused guilty during the investigation and gathered substantial evidence against him. After hearing the arguments, the court rejected the bail application, observing that prima facie serious allegations are established against the accused and that he does not qualify for release on bail.