LAHORE - Hearing a petition challenging shortage of petrol in the country, the Lahore High Court issued notices to Pakistan State Oil and summoned Attorney General of Pakistan to submit reply on January 20 on Friday.
Gohar Nawaz Sindhu, a lawyer- petitioner, had filed the petition saying the life came to a standstill after the acute shortage of petrol across the country; especially in Punjab and Sindh. He said the shortage was since January 14 while the authorities concerned instead of doing something played their role as silent spectators.
He said the authorities of Pakistan State Oil badly failed to manage the supply of fuel. The lawyer said that PSO did not pay due amount to the ministry of petroleum which led the nation to suffer from shortage of petrol. He said instead of paying the due amount of Rs 200 billion, the PSO paid only Rs 17 billion.
The citizens were facing hardships due to shortage of petrol as the transportation stopped. The buses and wagons charged extra fares and as a result, every citizen was suffering due to this shortage. He said right of life and right of free movement of the citizens guaranteed under Article 15 of the constitution are being violated.
He prayed the court to ensure necessary action for provision of the petroleum products throughout the province by issuing directions to the respondents. After hearing initial arguments of the petitioner-lawyer, Justice Shahid Waheed issued notices to PSO and summoned Attorney General of Pakistan to submit reply by January 20.