The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed more than 50 petitions challenging 14 per cent increase in the prices of natural gas.
The single bench comprising Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf heard the petitions filed by Ayesha Spinning Mills and others.
During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Ahmad Bilal submitted that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) determined the impugned gas prices for the last financial year but these were being implemented after passing the said financial year in November 2015.
He further submitted that the impugned prices were higher than the international market prices which would negatively affect the local industry.
He said the OGRA approved the hike in the prices without holding any public hearing which was a mandatory requirement for the said purpose. The counsel contended that this step was illegal and unconstitutional. He pleaded the court to set aside notification for 14 per cent hike in the gas prices.
However, the OGRA’s counsel and deputy attorney general submitted that before raising the gas prices, the notice of public hearing was advertised in the newspapers and public representatives were heard. The details were also mentioned by the OGRA in its decision, they added. They further contended that the petitions were not maintainable as the petitioners did not avail the first available remedy. “Petitioners should first approach the OGRA for revising the prices,” they stressed.
The court, after hearing arguments, dismissed petitions being not maintainable while vacating stay earlier granted against increase in the gas prices.
