Surge in prices of petroleum products: IHC issues notices to secretaries, OGRA

Islamabad High Court Friday issued notices to secretaries of Federal Finance Ministry, Petroleum Division, and Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) in response to a petition challenging recent surge in prices of petroleum products. Taking up the petition of Pir Mazhar Hussain Shah Shirazi, a single bench of the IHC comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui granted a week to respondents to file responses in the matter.
The petitioner submitted that the government has unjustly increased fuel price while it is decreasing in the global market, adding that the government increased the fuel prices 15 times in the last 16 months. He was of the view that increase in petroleum products prices have worse impact on daily commodities.
During the course of proceedings, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui made it clear if respondents fail to submit response in the plea in stipulated time then the court will announce ex parte decision in the matter. Later, hearing of the matter was adjourned till February 12.