The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday stayed the execution of 15 per cent increase in medicine prices recently notified by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). A citizen, Asmatullah Khan, had challenged the DRAP notification on the ground that the price hike was against the spirit of articles 9 and 14 of the constitution. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Noor Alam Khan, accused the federal government of abdicating its responsibility towards citizens. He argued that instead of providing relief to the masses, the government was further burdening the people. After hearing the arguments, a two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Ikramullah Khan and Justice Musarrat Hilali ordered a stay on the implementation of the DRAP notification. The court also issued notices to relevant federal government officials and other authorities concerned ordering them to appear on the next hearing on February 3. During the hearing, Justice Ikram said those who are protesting and creating a shortage of medicines should come to the court. “People are dying and they are increasing drug prices,” he remarked. The bench also instructed the petitioner to inform the court if any medicine company or medical store was attempting to store or hide medicines.
Published in Daily Times, February 1st 2019.
