Time granted in PFA operation in south Punjab case

LAHORE: The Punjab government’s lawyer on Monday pleaded the Lahore High Court to give some time to submit a reply in a petition challenging the powers of Punjab Food Authority to carry out its operation in south Punjab. The court accepted his plea and granted him time for preparation of arguments.

Rana Saleem, a citizen, filed the petition and submitted that the authority had launched an operation in south Punjab though that it had no powers to do so. At this, the court asked the lawyer who was representing the Punjab Food Authority to tell the court if the authority could carry out its business in south Punjab. On it, the lawyer pleaded for some time so that he could come up with arguments on the powers of the authority. The court accepted his plea and granted him time for preparation of arguments.

Meanwhile, a writ petition was filed in the LHC challenging the high prices of edibles, including the price of chicken. The petitioner said that a fake crisis was being portrayed ahead of Ramazan — the holy month of fasting. The petitioner prayed to the court to order the government to take action against those elements involved in price-hike of daily used items.