The Lahore High Court (LHC) has admitted a petition for regular hearing filed against 31 percent increase in electricity tariff issued notices to the respondents for a hearing on September 15. The court also directed the office to fix the petition with other similar petitions, already fixed for the said date.
A senior bar member, Malik Tariq Aziz challenging the increase in electricity tariff, termed it against the fundamental rights given by the Constitution. The petitioner submitted that according to economic experts, utility bills of a family going beyond 20 percent of the income upset the economic equilibrium of the family.
Wapda was supplying free electricity worth millions of rupees to its serving and retired employees, while public is being burdened with the electricity charges he added. Further, the state was spending Rs 150 million per annum as salaries and perks and privileges for the legislators while 50 percent of Pakistan's population are living beyond poverty line.
This increase of 30 percent would badly affect the living of the poor and salaried class, he added. He therefore prayed to the court to issue directive to stop this increase. He also prayed that perks and privileges that are being given to the legislators should be curtailed that could generate funds for the national exchequer.
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