Summary Says no tax on electricity prices can be imposed without rule of law and above the constitution.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry conducted hearing of case regarding electricity prices and while passing his remarks said that the reissuance of notification regarding oil prices is full of doubts and confusions. If NEPRA follows the government, its impartiality would badly affect.
The NEPRA counsel Rashidain Kasuri said that NAEPRA can take the guideline of the government but not follow the direction set by the government.
He argued that NEPRA issues the notification of schedule-1, so far as the second-2 is concerned, it is issued by the government which announces special subsidy. He said that the NEPRA takes only step which goes in favour of masses.
Upon this Chief Justice remarked that no tax on electricity prices can be above constitution. Only parliament is authorized to impose new taxes, NEPRA should determine the prices while being neutral and impartial.
Justice Jawad S Khawaja remarked that masses are real force in the democratic system of government; that is why the government has no right to impose undue taxes on masses.
Chief Justice said that NEPRA doesn’t pay heed to masses demands while determining prices. He said media campaign should be run before upping prices petroleum products.
He said that PTV telecasts news about the government and about its so-called achievements all the day. It must also air such programs which show the miseries and agonies of the poor people who already have been suppressed under the burden of inflation.
Chief Justice also said that the more subsidy is given to the area where more electricity is stolen. It seems to be a political issue.
