Majority of consumers not aware of their legal rights

Rawalpindi: Majority of the consumers in the twin cities are not aware of their legal rights due to which they face financial losses ignoring the fact that they can move the consumer courts against the wrongdoings of the product sellers.

Chaudhry Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, a senior advocate, told this correspondent that various consumer protection societies were formed in the twin cities with an aim to protect the rights of the consumers but all of these did nothing except lip service in last many years.

“The private consumer protection societies miserably failed to aware
the consumers about their legal rights so there is
a time to take an effective initiative in collaboration with the government to utilize all the existing laws in favour of the consumers,” he said.

He said there is a need to educate the students in the educational institutions
that they can move the consumer courts over low quality of products; over charging than normal rates;
misleading statement of the shopkeeper; warranty
issue; misleading advertising; unsatisfied services
of lawyer, doctor, mason
or any contractor; and
water, phone and gas services.

Chaudhry Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, a senior advocate,  said only enactment and enforcement of the law by the government never serves as it always requires enthusiastic response from the citizen’s side, adding “The consumers should register their complaints in the Consumer Courts or before Authority, as the case may be to mark the power of consumers and to protect their rights.”

Chaudhry Mujeeb-ur-Rehman said a consumer can file a claim for damages in the Consumer Court for various violations including non-issuance of receipt; non-exhibition of price list; non-mentioning of date of manufacturing, expiry or ingredient; and non-disclosures of qualification.