SC moved against POL price-hike in Pakistan
By Shiraz Aslam - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: A constitutional petition challenging the recent price hike of petroleum products was filed in the Supreme Court here on Monday.

The petition was filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider, chairman Awami Himayat Tehreek Pakistan, wherein he has contended that the formula for revising petrol prices and frequent hike in petrol products have aggravated the financial miseries of the general public besides paving way for increase of other living products.

The petitioner maintained that such pricing formula has thwarted the very concept of the annual federal budget passed by the parliament.

He prayed before the court that the recent increase in petrol by Rs 3.67 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.85 be declared as unconstitutional, illegal and arbitrary.

Direction to revert back to earlier prices of the petroleum products before September-1, 2005, have also been sought by the petitioner.

Levy by OCAC

The OCAC is levying taxes, the petitioner contended, against the principle laid down in Article 77 under which tax could not be levied without the approval of the parliament.

The petition maintains that by increasing the prices, the committee was violating Article 70 (procedures relating to introduction and passing of the bills in the parliament), Article 71 (mediation committee), 73 (procedure with respect to money bill), 74 (federal government’s consent required for financial measures) and 77 (tax to be levied by law only).

He pleaded the prices of the petroleum products have been made at a time when the holy month of Ramadan was only 30 days away besides the increase encouraged the wholesellers, traders and transporters to enhance the prices at their own will at the cost of the common people forcing them to commit suicide.●