LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Wednesday took exception to non-appearance of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Chairperson Uzma Adil Khan in the proceedings relating to shortage of petrol in the country and summoned the prime minister’s principal secretary.

At the outset of the hearing, an application for exemption from personal appearance was filed on behalf of Ogra chairperson. However, Chief Justice Khan turned down the request and observed that the chairperson should quit the post if she was afraid of coronavirus.

He remarked that Ogra had ruined the country and no concrete action had been taken against those responsible for the fuel shortage.

“If fuel shortage occurs during a defence related emergency, the whole country may collapse in a day,” he said with anger.

Asked about the procedure to remove the chairperson of Ogra, Secretary Petroleum Asad Hayauddin told the court that an approval from the cabinet was required for the purpose.

To another query, he said no summary had so far been sent to the cabinet for the removal of Ogra chairperson.

Chief Justice Khan observed that the court would order registration of a criminal cases against the people responsible for the fuel crisis and send them to jail.

The secretary stated that the petrol shortage started from June 1, whereas the government had been monitoring the matter since March.

The chief justice asked the secretary as to what action had been taken in the months of April and May to control the crisis. The secretary said Ogra had the mandate to take action in this regard.

The chief justice observed that the Ogra chairperson appeared to be the government’s favourite.

A federal law officer filed a reply on behalf of prime minister’s Principal Secretary Azam Khan, saying the government had ordered a strict action against the persons involved in the artificial shortage of petrol.

However, the chief justice rejected the reply as being unsatisfactory. He said the principal secretary tried to be “more loyal than the king” and such people always caused damage to the government.

He also hinted at a judicial commission to probe into the fuel crisis and to fix the responsibility.

Punjab home secretary and inspector general of police told the court about cases registered against the hoarders of petrol.

The chief justice adjourned hearing till June 30 and summoned the principal secretary to the prime minister.

He also appointed Advocate Awais Khalid as amicus curiae (friend of court) to assist the court on the legal points relating to possible actions against the companies and officials involved in the fuel shortage.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2020