LAHORE, Dec 13: The Lahore High Court restrained on Thursday the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) from harassing and taking coercive measures against distributors of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Four LPG distributors/dealers filed a petition challenging actions being taken by Ogra against them for not selling the gas as per the new price fixed by the authority.

Petitioners also assailed a fresh notification issued on Dec 8 last for increasing the gas price.

Petitioners through their counsel pleaded that they had challenged a notification of Ogra issued on July 5, 2012, and the authority had undertaken before the court that it would not issue a fresh notification till disposal of the case.

The counsel stated that the Ogra had betrayed the court and issued a fresh notification forcing the companies and shopkeepers to sell gas on Rs125 per kilo.

He said the fresh notification was issued without consulting the LPG association and other stakeholders.

He pointed out that the authority was raiding on companies and shops to ensure the sale of LPG as per the new price which, he argued, was a violation of court directions.

He prayed to the court to take notice of the ‘illegal’ actions of Ogra and restrain it. Justice Ijazul Ahsan restrained the Ogra from taking coercive measures against the LPG distributors/dealers and sought a reply by Dec 18.