LAHORE - The Lahore High Court on Friday allowed two weeks to Ministry of Water and Power and Lahore Electric Supply Company to file detailed reply in response of a petition seeking directions to cancel the contracts with the supplier companies of substandard transformers.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan passed the decision on the petitions moved by some transformer supply companies.
Earlier, the petitioners’ counsels told the court that power supply companies had given contracts to the firms who supplied substandard transformers.
They contended the incidents of transformer blasts and wires fire were increased due to their poor quality. They pointed out that the National Accountability Bureau and Federal Investigation Agency were also probing against the firms that delivered substandard equipments to the respondents.
They requested the court to cancel the contracts of the respondents with those firms who involved in supply of second-rated transformers.
However, a law officer of the LESCO sought two weeks time to file the reply.
The court accepted his request and adjourned hearing.
Petition against sugar import: Hearing a petition against import of sugar, the Lahore High Court on Friday asked the petitioner’s counsel to come up with arguments on a point whether court could interfere into government economic policy.
The petitioner through his counsel pleaded that Economic Coordination Council had approved import of 5 lac ton sugar that play havoc with common man. He said in 2009 artificial shortage of sugar was created in the country and price had gone up. He said sugar mafia would take advantage of the situation and export the imported sugar and it would create acute shortage of sugar during crushing season. He pointed out that price of sugar had already increased by Rs.2 per kg.
On it, Chief Justice remarked that how could court interfere into government’s economic policy.
Counsel replied that availability of basic necessities is related to article 9 and 14 of the Constitution.
The court adjourned the hearing till October 21 and directed all parties to assist the court on the issue.