Failure to control prices: LHC allows time to federal, Punjab government to file replies

The Lahore High Court on Monday allowed time to federal and Punjab governments to file their replies by August 15 in a writ petition against government's failure to control prices of essential commodities and alleged black-marketing and profiteering by traders during Ramazan.
An assistant advocate general, Sirajul Islam representing the Punjab government informed the court that a similar petition was already pending adjudication before another bench of the court. He asked the court to attach this petition too with the pending petition.
At this, petitioner Muhammad Azhar Siddique advocate said the petition pointed out by the law officer was against shortage of sugar and its inflated price, whereas the instant petition questioned uncontrolled high prices particularly ahead of Ramazan.
He alleged that the Punjab government was making excuses to cover up its mismanagement and failure in combating the hoarding and price hike. The court, however, remarked that responsibility would be fixed after seeing replies from the governments. A deputy attorney general also sought time to file reply on behalf of federal government.
The petitioner Chairman Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) pointed out that in Pakistan some black sheep are making profit in the name of religion while federal and provincial governments had badly failed in controlling prices of essential commodities and was unable to nab hoarding and black marketing of essential food products.
He said that it is constitutional duty of the governments to ensure the provision of the essential commodities to citizens at reasonable prices, however they stayed aloof from the suffering of the people due to current price hike. He said the government was unable to control the price of wheat, maize, sugar, fruits and vegetables, which has made the life of common man miserable.
He said relevant laws provide meager penalties up to three-year imprisonment, however, no person has been booked so far. He said these laws should be amended and some harsh punishments should be suggested to stop black marketing, excess profiteering and adulteration.