He was hearing a writ petition filed by a Garden Town resident, Muhammad Asif, seeking a stay order against commercial activities being carried out in his locality.

The petitioner through his counsel submitted that illegal commercial activities in the area had made the lives of the residents a hell. The residents were facing a lot of noise pollution and also their lives were in danger at the hands of unchecked and illegal commercial activities, he added. The petitioner prayed to the court to issue a stay order against such activities in his area.

After hearing initial arguments, the CJ issued notices to the Punjab government and Lahore Development Authority for Feb 10.

Meanwhile, the chief justice sought assistance of attorney general of Pakistan and the Punjab advocate general to decide maintainability of a petition against the upcoming Senate elections.

Advocate Feroze Shah Gillani filed the petition saying that elections of national and all provincial assemblies were not genuine and held on the basis of fake and unverified votes. Therefore, the elections of the assemblies based on the existing voter lists were not in accordance with the requirements of article 28 (3) of the Constitution.

He asked the court to declare the forthcoming Senate election illegal and unconstitutional and stay the same. The CJ will resume hearing on Feb 15.

petroleum levy: The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notices to the federal government and the petroleum secretary on a writ petition challenging imposition of levy which increased liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) price by Rs13,500 per ton.

Different LPG companies filed the petition through Advocate Shahid Hamid, saying the levy was first introduced as part of the LPG Policy 2011 and suspended by the LHC in October 2011.

The counsel said the same had now been reintroduced as an amendment to the Petroleum Products Ordinance 1961.

He said the levy imposition resulted into a record price hike for the LPG consumers.

The counsel pleaded if the levy enforcement continued, the ultimate pressure would be borne by the state-owned LPG producers that accounted for 70 per cent of Pakistan’s production.

The petitioners requested the court to set aside the LPG Policy 2011 as it was discriminatory to the private LPG companies.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, issuing notices on the petition, sought appearance of the petroleum secretary and also restrained the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and the petroleum ministry from taking coercive actions against LPG marketing companies.

The judge adjourned further hearing till Feb 27.