Peshawar: The High Court has suspended the notification of increase in gas prices.
Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali heard the petitions filed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textile Mills Association against the hike in gas prices.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer Shamail Ahmed Butt advocate argued that OGRA increased the gas prices at the behest of the federal government. Ogra issued the tariff notification on July 1.
The lawyer said that when SNGPL approached Ogra for hike in gas tariff, Ogra decided that SNGPL had earned a lot and now consumers should benefit. OGRA had proposed a reduction in tariff of Rs 179 per mmbtu for all categories.
The petitioner’s counsel said that instead of giving relief to the consumers, the federal government increased the prices. The federal government increased the price from 2750 mmbtu to 3000 mmbtu. The federal government’s price hike is illegal.
Deputy Attorney General Sanaullah told the court that this application is not admissible, the federal government wants to discourage the Kapisto Power Procedure.
Later, after hearing the preliminary arguments, the court suspended the notification of hike in gas prices and sought a response from SNGPL at the next hearing.
