KARACHI, July 10: The Sindh High Court directed the federal petroleum ministry, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and the CNG dealers association to file their comments on two petitions questioning overcharging by gas dealers by July 24.
Petitioner-lawyers Javaid Ahmed Chhatari and Maqboolur Rehman said in their petitions that the CNG price was increased by Rs5.58 per kilogram on July 1 but the dealers raised the price from Rs38.25 to Rs51.25 arbitrarily and without any justification. The petroleum ministry belatedly issued a clarification after the dealers had made huge windfall gains by extorting the arbitrarily-fixed price. Despite the clarification, however, the gas was selling at a high rate of Rs47.25 instead of Rs43.83 in accordance with the official announcement.
Deputy Attorney-General Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui sought time to submit comments on behalf of the official respondents. The dealers association also requested adjournment for filing comments. A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Azizullah M. Memon and Justice Khalid Ali Z. Qazi gave them until July 24 to submit their rejoinders.
Order reserved
The bench, meanwhile, reserved its order on a petition moved by Naib Nazim of Gambat Taluka, Khairpur district, of the opposition Functional Muslim League against a recall motion. He said the motion had been moved in violation of the law and rules as he was neither given a notice of it nor afforded an opportunity to clarify his position vis-à-vis the allegations against him.
His opponents said a clear majority of the council members wanted to recall him by passing a vote of no-confidence against him as was evident from their affidavits in the court and technical considerations should not be allowed to stand in the exercise of their democratic right.
Notice to CSB
The bench issued notices to the central selection board (CSB) and other respondents in a petition moved by senior police superintendent Abbas Raza for his promotion to Grade 20. About the petitioner’s apprehension that a CSB meeting due to be held on July 15 may seal the fate of his petition, the bench observed that any decision taken by the board at its July 15 meeting would be subject to the outcome of the court proceedings.
The petitioner contended that he was made an officer on special duty for a considerable period of time during which his annual confidential reports were not made to the competent authority. He said he was not responsible for omission. Besides, another officer placed in identical circumstances was promoted to the next grade and he was being discriminated against.
Auction suspended
Justice Qaiser Iqbal, meanwhile, suspended the auction proceedings initiated by Soneri Bank under Section 15 of the Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Ordinance, 2001, in respect of property mortgaged by M/s Cargo Aid.
The plaintiff concern submitted through Advocate Saalim Salam Ansari that it had filed a suit for the rendition of accounts, redemption of mortgage and set-off.
It alleged that the creditor bank had failed to furnish copies of statement of accounts and related documents. Issuing a notice to the bank for Aug 4, the judge stayed the auction proceedings.
The judge also vacated a stay order against the sale of properties mortgaged by M/s Sindh Export Enterprises to the Bank of Khyber. Advocate Naveedul Haq Chaudhry submitted on behalf of the creditor bank that the properties had already been sold in a public auction under Section 15 of the 2001 ordinance and the stay order was obtained by concealing the fact.
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