LAHORE, Sept 3: Lahore High Court Judge Justice Hamid Ali Shah on Wednesday ordered re-listing for Sept 15 of a petition challenging the proposed 31 per cent raise in the electricity tariff.

The judge ordered that the petition would be heard along matters pertaining to power price hike.

Petitioner-lawyer Tariq Aziz advocate said the raise if implemented would “crush” the salaried class already reeling under sky-rocketing prices of essentials. He added the proposed raise was in violation of Constitution’s Article 9, which guaranteed the right to live.

He said the experts had calculated that if utility bills were more than 20 per cent of the income of a family, it played havoc with its life. He added where 31 per cent increase was being notified, Wapda’s serving and retired employees were getting huge subsidy on electricity. He added the government should focus on other means of income and reverse its decision of doing away with the wealth tax.

He prayed to the court to restrain the federal government from notifying the increase.