ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group) also joined the fray on Monday against high petroleum prices by challenging the composition of the nine-member Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC).

OCAC determines oil prices in the country. A petition, filed by Advocate Mohammad Ikram Chaudhry on behalf of the PML-N Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, sought a reduction in what it termed “artificial” prices of petroleum products and a restraining order against the OCAC from further price increase pending a court decision.

This is third such petition filed before the Supreme Court against the OCAC. Previously, petitions had been filed by PPP Senator Rukhsana Zuberi and Chairman of the Awami Himayat Tehrik Pakistan Maulvi Iqbal Haider.

In his petition, Iqbal Jhagra urged the court to pass an order requiring the return of profit earned by all oil companies and extra duties levied by the government since July 2001 till pendency of the petition.

Federal government, secretary ministry of petroleum, chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), chairman OCAC, Chief Executive Attock Petroleum Limited Shoaib Malik, Country Representative Caltex Oil (Pak) Ltd Nadeem Jaffery, Managing Director Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd Tariq Kirmani, Chairman Shell Pakistan Ltd Farooq Rehmatullah, Chief Executive Total Parco Pakistan Ltd Emmanuel Laurenty, Managing Director National Refinery Ltd M Qaiser Jamal, Managing Director Pak Arab Refinery Ltd Dr Shahid K Hak and Chief Executive Pakistan Refinery Zafar Haleem are respondents in the petition.

He pleaded that OCAC Ordinance XXVI of 2001 and Petroleum Development Levy Amendment Ordinance 2001 were against the constitution besides the appointment of secretary OCAC was also without lawful authority.

He stated, the increase in the prices of oil, petroleum and petroleum products since July 2001 to-date were illegal, arbitrary, non-transparent and deceitful.

Similarly OCAC Ordinance militates against Article 2 (Islam to be state religion), 4 (rights of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with law) and 8 (laws inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights to be void).

Likewise, profits earned from July 2001 to date by oil companies should be placed before the court, he contended, adding that the OCAC should also have consumer representation in addition to a public functionary.

PML-N secretary general has also requested the court to direct the government for the establishment of an oil pricing committee to determine oil prices to safeguard the public interest.

He has also called for the forfeiture of approximately Rs150 billion from accounts of oil companies, which they earned as profit.