PHC issues show-cause notice to SNGPL official

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday issued show-cause notice to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) regional head in a petition seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the officials for violation of the judgment of the court by continuing excessive gas loadshedding in the province.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Qalandar Ali Khan issued contempt notice to Arbab Saqib, regional head of SNGPL, asking him to appear before the bench and explain position. The bench issued the notice in a contempt of court petition filed by lawyers, including Muhammad Arif Khan, Abbas Sangeen Khan and Shakeel Aman.

Arbab Saqib, SNGPL regional chief, federal government through secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Ogra chairman and secretary, Intra-Provincial Coordination of Natural Resources Authority were named as alleged contemnors in the petition. Muhammad Arif Khan and Abbas Sangeen made arguments for the petition.

It was submitted that the petitioners were residents of Peshawar and gas consumers. "In 2011, consumers had challenged the excessive gas loadshedding in the high court as supply of gas remained suspended for weeks and months," the petition stated. It was stated that the high court in year 2011 gave a detailed judgment in favour of the petitioners after detailed arguments from both lawyers for the consumers and law officers, representing the federation in the case.

The petitioner said that the case was decided in view of Article 158 of the Constitution. The high court had allowed the petitions and directed the respondents to adhere to the letter and spirit of the Article 158 of the Constitution while dealing with the petitioners and all other stakeholders in the province while supplying natural gas.