LAHORE: A Lahore High Court single judge on Monday requested the chief justice to constitute a larger bench to decide writ petitions regarding price determination of essential commodities, including wheat, flour and sugar.

Justice Shahid Jamil Khan was hearing the petitions filed by Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) and others questioning the failure of the government to determine the prices of wheat, flour and other essential items.

The petitioners contended that the government was supposed to fix and control prices of the essential commodities under the Punjab Foodstuff (Control) Act 1958 and the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act 1977.

They asked the court to order the government to fulfill its statutory obligations and determine the prices of essential items.

The judge observed that the matter involved questions of public importance and needed to be heard by a larger bench. The judge referred the petitions to the chief justice with a request to form a larger bench in the matter.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2021