ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved verdict in the petition filed by oil companies against the government action against them on charges of oil hoarding.
The IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Athar Minallah heard the oil companies petition against the FIA action.
On the query of CJ, additional attorney general Tariq Khokhar informed the court that no cases are being registered against the oil companies and no case as well registered against the petitioner.
After hearing the arguments the court reserved the verdict.
On last hearing, the IHC refused to stay governmental action against an oil marketing company (OMC) accused of hoarding and black marketing fuel as it asked the federal government and other respondents to submit replies to the OMC’s petition by June 25 (today).
According to the OMC, the committee on June 12 summoned the chief executive officer (CEO) of the company and leveled against the company the “baseless” allegation of hoarding and black marketing.
The petitioner also claimed that the government did not constitute the fuel crisis committee under the Inquiry Act and therefore it was illegal.
It had requested the court to set aside the Ministry of Petroleum’s June 8 and 9 notifications as well as to stop the government from taking any actions against the company till the court decides the petition.
The OMC had nominated the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the Ministry of Petroleum, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the committee as respondents.
Justice Minallah remarked that the government is answerable to the public and is authorized to conduct an inquiry if there is any problem in oil supply system.
