Staff Reporter Lahore
A petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday against the recent hike in the petroleum products’ prices by the government.
The petition, in which the federal government, Ministry of Petroleum and others were made the respondents and was filed by Judicial Activism Panel, read that with increase in the petroleum product’s prices, the prices of other items would go up further.
The petitioner said already several applications had been filed in the LHC against hike in the POL prices. “The government has enhanced Petroleum Regulatory and Development Levy Tax,” said the petitioner, and prayed to the court to order the government to withdraw additional taxes levied on the petroleum products so that their prices could be brought down.
Judicial Activism Panel, in its petition, further argued that the increase was against articles 2-A, 4, 9, 14, 29 and 38 of the constitution.
“In view of the aforementioned facts, it is prayed to the court to declare hike in POL prices null and void,” the petition concluded.
The government had stunned the whole nation three days ago, on September 15, when it announced ‘marked’ increase in the petroleum products’ prices.
The price of petrol, in particular, worried commuters which after an increase by Rs5 per liter reached an all-time high rate of Rs123 per liter.
The government’s decision also invited the wrath of opposition parties which strongly criticized it for its ‘incompetence’ and ‘indifference’ to people’s problems.
