PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday directed the federal government to address petrol crisis within three days and produce a compliance report.

A bench consisting of Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan and Justice Ahmad Ali observed that the people were deeply troubled by petrol shortages but the government was busy holding useless meetings.

Federal petroleum minister Omar Ayub Khan appeared before the court on notice and said the fuel crisis would be over in three days.

The bench fixed June 17 for the next hearing into the case directing the minister to resolve the crisis and submit a report about it to it.

Few days ago, the bench had taken note of petrol crisis on its own during the hearing into another case and directed the government to submit report on it.

On Wednesday, the bench had taken exception to the continuation of the crisis and had ordered the minister to appear before it.

Minister blames petrol shortages on ‘mafias’

Besides Omar Ayub, the petroleum secretary, additional advocate general Sikander Hayat and representatives of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority also turned up during the hearing.

When the bench asked the minister why the petroleum crisis has emerged, he replied that 10 days stock of petrol was available in the country but hoarders and ‘mafias’ had created an artificial fuel crisis.

The bench observed that long queues of motorists and individuals could be seen at filling stations for petrol, so the government should take immediate steps to address their misery.

The minister said the government had constituted a committee for fixing responsibility on the crisis, while action would be taken against the culpable petroleum companies.

The bench observed that committees were often set up for delaying any issue, whereas immediate steps were required in the current circumstances.

It added that the country had been facing different crises of sugar, what and petrol and the government continued to blame mafias for these crises instead of fulfilling its responsibility of keeping an eye on all those issues.

Justice Qaiser Rashid observed that they all even if they were judges, ministers or the prime minister were answerable to the Almighty Allah for the responsibilities bestowed on them.

“We are part of this society and can not shut our eyes to problems faced by people,” he said.

The bench also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of NAB observing that it had been taking action against patwaris and people involved in petty nature offences whereas mafias had been left scot free.

It asked a prosecutor and an official of NAB to let their chairman know that the court is not satisfied with his performance.

Meanwhile, Omar Ayub Khan told reporters that they had been taking action against the ‘mafia’ involved in petrol crisis.

He said petrol stock of different companies had been confiscated, while cases were registered against them for creating the crisis.

The minister said for the first time in the history, a government was taking action against cartel of petroleum products.

He said Ogra had also issued show cause notices to multinational petroleum companies responsible for the shortage of petrol in themarket.

The minister claimed that raids were conducted at petroleum depots at Taro Jabba (Nowshera), Lahore and other cities.

He said reduction in prices increased the demand for petrol by 30 per cent, whereas dealers also hoarded it and stopped its supply.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2020