Islamabad(July 05, 2018): Chief Justice Mr. Justice Saqib Nisar on Thursday ordered the relevant stakeholders to find a way to bring down the prices of petroleum products and ease the burden on the common man.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court was hearing a case related to the surge in petroleum prices.
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Expressing concern at yet another Rs7.5 hike in the price of petroleum, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar asked for justification for the most recent increase in the prices of petroleum products. 
“Why are petroleum prices rising? Why is custom duty and sales tax being levied on petroleum products? We want experts’ opinion on the [continuous price hikes],” the chief justice remarked.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed that it was an unfair policy, while Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that it equated to indirect taxation.
The deputy attorney-general informed the bench that the surge in petroleum prices was a result of rising global crude oil prices and the weakness in rupee.
To this, the chief justice remarked that if petroleum prices were increasing then there was a need to adjust taxation so that the public did not have to bear the burden.
“Who are the policy-makers? Do they not care about the people?” CJP Nisar wondered.
The top judge directed the concerned officials to provide a breakup of petroleum prices from the past three months.
The deputy attorney-general told the bench that the federal government would need to be brought on board, and asked for more time to tackle the matter.
The court then adjourned hearing on the case till Sunday, July 8.
Earlier on July 01, the caretaker government approved hike in the petroleum prices on advice of OGRA.
As per the notification, the new per-liter prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene oil, light diesel, and high-speed diesel are Rs99.50, Rs119.31, Rs87.70, Rs80.91, and Rs105.31, respectively.
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Hike in PoL Price Challenged in Lahore High Court:
Earlier on July 02, hike in petroleum price was challenged in Lahore High Court.
Advocate Azhar Siddique had challenged the hike in prices.
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Caretaker Govt has no right to reshuffle prices of petroleum prices, Azhar Siddique advocate said in his plea.
PPP Slams Hike In PoL Prices, Demands To Withdraw Decision:
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on July 01 rejected the hike in petroleum products’ prices.
In a statement, former opposition leader in National Assembly Khurshid Shah demanded the caretaker government to withdraw its decision.
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He also urged to provide maximum relief to the nation.
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