LAHORE: A Lahore-based lawyer has challenged recent hike in the prices of petroleum products in Lahore High Court.
In his petition, Azhar Siddique advocate has argued that the petrol prices have been increased without an approval from the federal cabinet, which was against the law.
The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), federal government and other concerned have been made party in the case.
In a case hearing, a two-member bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, asked the government to apprise the court regarding the procedure of fixing the prices of petroleum products in the country. The court also issued a notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) in this case.
The petitioner Ahar Siddiue advocate stated that there was no procedure to fix the prices of petroleum products in the country. He also stated that the government is receiving 17 per cent sales tax on petroleum products.
The petitioner further stated that the government’s imposition of sales tax on essential items was a violation of the Constitution.
On Friday, the government suddenly raised the prices of petrol and diesel by more than Rs 8 per litre.
According to a notification issued by the Finance Division, the price of petrol has been hiked by Rs 8.03 to Rs 145.82 per litre while that of high-speed diesel by Rs 8.14 to Rs 142.62 per litre.
