Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan called on National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Sunday to discuss Lahore High Court Order of June 30, 2020 on shortage of petroleum products.
Attorney General briefed the speaker on the observation of Lahore High Court on the shortage of petroleum products and increase in their prices.
The speaker said that parliament always held the judiciary in high esteem and respected the observations made by it. The LHC’s concern was pertinent keeping in view the problems faced by public at large.
He informed that a report had already been sought from standing committee of the National Assembly on Energy regarding shortage and rise in prices of petroleum products.
Referring to the role of National Assembly, the speaker said that the elected representatives take up the issues relating to their constituents in the assembly.
He said that the issue of shortage of petroleum products and the problems faced by public was raised in budget session of the National Assembly both by the government and opposition benches. He said that parliament had in past played vital role and would keep on playing its role on public issues.
Referring to the constitution of parliamentary committee on COVID-19 pandemic and special committees on stranded Pakistanis abroad due to the pandemic, the problem faced by agriculture sector and issues of Balochistan, the Speaker said that these illustrate the seriousness of the Parliament towards issues of public importance. Adviser to NA Speaker on Constitutional and Legal Affairs Latif Yousafzai was also present during the meeting.
It may be mentioned here that the LHC had earlier recommended the government form a committee to probe the recent petrol crisis, calling on the National Assembly speaker to include members of the opposition and treasury benches in it.
LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan asked Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan to discuss the court’s suggestion with the speaker. He observed that the court wants the parliament to do this job on its own, otherwise, the law will take its course and no official, if found guilty, would be spared.
The chief justice was hearing a petition seeking action against concerned authorities for their alleged failure to control shortage of petrol.
The chief justice directed the attorney general to assist the court during the next hearing to determine if the speaker does not form a committee, whether a commission under the code of criminal procedure would be appropriate to hold investigation into the fuel crisis.
At the outset of the hearing, the counsel of the petitioner sought the court’s permission to withdraw the petition, saying that there was no more shortage of petrol in the country. However, the chief justice turned down the request.
AGP Khan filed an application on behalf of Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Azam Khan for a one-time exemption from personal appearance. At this, the chief justice expressed his dismay, saying that it seems that the principal secretary should be summoned through arrest warrants.
The chief justice noted that the secretary will not be given exemption if the attorney general does not appear before the court. He questioned the manner in which prices of petroleum products increased suddenly before the end of the month.
