22:05
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LAHORE
The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday sought report from the Ministry of Religious Affairs about complaints moved by pilgrims against Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) for providing poor facilities to them during Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The chief justice also sought a report from the ministry about registration of new Hajj group Organizers (HGOs). The CJ was hearing several petitions against Hajj Policy 2012. The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) was holding an inquiry into the affairs of the religious ministry and objections previously raised by pilgrims about the Hajj process.
The petitioners submitted that the ministry of religious affairs had assured the high court that the best facilities would be provided to the pilgrims during Hajj but the HGOs failed to provide the best services to them, the petitioners added. Their counsel pointed out that the ministry had to file the report in view of earlier orders regarding the complaints and actions over them. However, no report had been filed so far, the counsel said. At this, the chief justice observed that the HGOs had earned millions of rupees profit and paid only nominal fine when action had been taken against them over the complaints of pilgrims. After paying the nominal fine, they again got Hajj quota next year, the chief justice said, adding that their licenses should be suspended, instead of imposing fine on them. The court directed a deputy attorney general to submit the report showing number of registered HGO, complaints of pilgrims and actions on them against the tour operators.
The CJ adjourned the hearing till December 10 and directed the CCP to hold the inquiry purely on merit.
Asim summoned: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday sought personal appearance of the advisor to Prime Minister on petroleum Dr Asim Hussain to explain his position for irresponsible statement to media about a pending case against LPG Policy 2011 and subsequent petroleum levy. The chief justice, Umar Ata Bandial, was hearing several petitions filed by LPG marketing/distribution companies.
During the course of hearing, the chief justice remarked that the irresponsible statement of Dr Hussain regarding the instant proceedings during a television program was cast into sharp contrast for being utterly unfounded and uncalled for.
“The fact that the statement was made in relation to the pending judicial proceedings carries adverse implications. Accordingly, Dr. Asim Hussain shall attend the court to answer queries in relation to his statement,” the chief justice observed and directed a deputy attorney general, present in court, to convey the order to Dr Hussain and also ensure compliance.
The CJ adjourned further hearing of the petitions till November 22 as counsel for federal government sought further time to address two points from the bedrock of the petitioner’s case. Firstly, the Petroleum Products (Petroleum Levy) (Amendment) Act 2011 vests discretion to fix rate of petroleum levy solely in the federal government. As a result, the regulatory mechanism through Ogra in the LPG Policy 2011 for setting the rate of levy had been discarded by the parliament. In the said scenario the taxing authority (federal government) had no available guidance for the exercise of its taxing power under the statute. Therefore, the taxing portion suffers from excessive delegation and the impugned levy could not be charged and collected on LPG by the federal government. The second point was that, under the Constitution, the Council of Common Interest (CCI) was the highest policy making and regulatory body in relation to petroleum, natural gas and its products. The permanent body, which convened every quarter, had neither been consulted nor given approval to the imposition of the impugned petroleum levy that was sought to be charged by the federal government.
The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday sought report from the Ministry of Religious Affairs about complaints moved by pilgrims against Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) for providing poor facilities to them during Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The chief justice also sought a report from the ministry about registration of new Hajj group Organizers (HGOs). The CJ was hearing several petitions against Hajj Policy 2012. The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) was holding an inquiry into the affairs of the religious ministry and objections previously raised by pilgrims about the Hajj process.
The petitioners submitted that the ministry of religious affairs had assured the high court that the best facilities would be provided to the pilgrims during Hajj but the HGOs failed to provide the best services to them, the petitioners added. Their counsel pointed out that the ministry had to file the report in view of earlier orders regarding the complaints and actions over them. However, no report had been filed so far, the counsel said. At this, the chief justice observed that the HGOs had earned millions of rupees profit and paid only nominal fine when action had been taken against them over the complaints of pilgrims. After paying the nominal fine, they again got Hajj quota next year, the chief justice said, adding that their licenses should be suspended, instead of imposing fine on them. The court directed a deputy attorney general to submit the report showing number of registered HGO, complaints of pilgrims and actions on them against the tour operators.
The CJ adjourned the hearing till December 10 and directed the CCP to hold the inquiry purely on merit.
Asim summoned: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday sought personal appearance of the advisor to Prime Minister on petroleum Dr Asim Hussain to explain his position for irresponsible statement to media about a pending case against LPG Policy 2011 and subsequent petroleum levy. The chief justice, Umar Ata Bandial, was hearing several petitions filed by LPG marketing/distribution companies.
During the course of hearing, the chief justice remarked that the irresponsible statement of Dr Hussain regarding the instant proceedings during a television program was cast into sharp contrast for being utterly unfounded and uncalled for.
“The fact that the statement was made in relation to the pending judicial proceedings carries adverse implications. Accordingly, Dr. Asim Hussain shall attend the court to answer queries in relation to his statement,” the chief justice observed and directed a deputy attorney general, present in court, to convey the order to Dr Hussain and also ensure compliance.
The CJ adjourned further hearing of the petitions till November 22 as counsel for federal government sought further time to address two points from the bedrock of the petitioner’s case. Firstly, the Petroleum Products (Petroleum Levy) (Amendment) Act 2011 vests discretion to fix rate of petroleum levy solely in the federal government. As a result, the regulatory mechanism through Ogra in the LPG Policy 2011 for setting the rate of levy had been discarded by the parliament. In the said scenario the taxing authority (federal government) had no available guidance for the exercise of its taxing power under the statute. Therefore, the taxing portion suffers from excessive delegation and the impugned levy could not be charged and collected on LPG by the federal government. The second point was that, under the Constitution, the Council of Common Interest (CCI) was the highest policy making and regulatory body in relation to petroleum, natural gas and its products. The permanent body, which convened every quarter, had neither been consulted nor given approval to the imposition of the impugned petroleum levy that was sought to be charged by the federal government.
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