Notice in petroleum products case

LAHORE

Justice Ayesha A Malik of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a petition challenging the recent increase in the petroleum products. Judge sought reply from the federal government until April 18. 

Petition moved on behalf of Justice Party. Petitioner counsel submitted that the recent increase in the petroleum products was unconstitutional.

He said that the increase was made through a notification and legal requirement of parliament approval was not made.

He said that in the international market, the petroleum products prices were reduced but the government was not passing on the benefit of declining global oil prices to the consumers in Pakistan.

He said that the increase effects on every aspect of human life are rising without any reason and the rulers are making money in this way. He said that the government was charging 50 percent sales tax on the petroleum products, which was unjust. He said that this increase was against the Article 18, 14, and 9 of the Constitution of Pakistan; therefore, it should be declared illegal and non-operational. He requested to declare the increase in the prices illegal.

corruption case: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued notices to federal and Punjab governments on a petition seeking formation of a ‘Shadow Cabinet’ to eliminate the menace of corruption from country and make Public Accounts Committees functional.

Justice Ch Muhammad Masood Jahangir took up the petition filed by Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed of PTI. The judge adjourned further hearing until May 24. The petitioner submitted that there was no check on corruption and misuse of power in government and semi-government departments. He said public accounts committees were also not working. Corruption cannot be stopped until and unless the public accounts committees were made functional.

Because, he said, these committees were given mandate to keep check on corruption. The petitioner stated that there were shadow cabinets with UK political system. He requested the court to order the government to amend the rules of business of the Punjab Assembly and establish shadow cabinet to make public accounts committees functional so that the corruption could be stopped.