QUETTA: A division bench of the Balochistan High Court, comprising Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Abdul Hameed Baloch, on Thursday heard a constitutional petition filed against the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and the Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) regarding bills and additional charges.
Petitioner Advocate Syed Nazeer Agha, SSGC’s lawyer Kamran Murtaza, Rukhsana Kakar, the deputy attorney general, and others appeared before the court.
Advocate Murtaza, on behalf of SSGC, stated that the constitutional petition filed by Advocate Agha and others is not admissible. Consumers should have approached the Consumer Court, Ogra and other forums.
Mr Agha said that the constitutional petition was filed in public interest. He said PUG/slow meter charges were not being sent to consumers in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities. “PUG/Slow meters are being sent to the people of Balochistan only which is an injustice with them,” he added.
He showed the gas bills of consumers of Karachi and Islamabad and said these bills of up to Rs160 and Rs250 had been sent to consumers. These bills do not even include PUG / slow meter charges and PUG / GST columns whereas consumers in Quetta are being charged Rs40,000 PUG charges. He said it was a violation of Article 25 of the Constitution.
During the last hearing, Justice Baloch observed that proper supply of gas to Ziarat, Quetta, Pishin, Kalat and Mastung should be ensured and gas pressure should be maintained in Ziarat. He said meters should not be taken off in the absence of consumers. If the company has any complaint, then meters should be taken off in the presence of consumers.
An advertisement published in newspapers by SSGC was also presented and the court was informed that the step was taken for the convenience of the people.
Advocate Agha requested the court that the next hearing be fixed for Dec 9 instead of Dec 16 as winter vacations are about to begin in the court while SSGC lawyer Advocate Murtaza told the court that he was leaving the country. Therefore, the next hearing should be fixed for Dec 16.
The court adjourned the hearing to Dec 16.
Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2021
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