On the last hearing, the court had rejected the SNGPL's contention that gas supply had been stopped to all new schemes, saying RMT is an old housing scheme work on which couldn't be completed even 15 years after its start. - File photo

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday warned the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) not to further delay gas supply to the Regi Model Township (RMT) and said all relevant officials, including the petroleum and natural resources secretary, would face action in case of failure to take the desired action.

A two-member bench consisting of Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth expressed displeasure at the SNGPL's failure to plan gas supply to the said housing scheme despite being paid Rs400 million by Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) for it.

It ruled that any further delay in gas supply to RMT would lead to adjustment of markup on the money paid to SNGP in the ultimate cost of the project or recovery of the money.

The ruling was issued during the hearing into a petition of RMT allottees against slow pace of development work in their scheme.

On the last hearing, the court had rejected the SNGPL's contention that gas supply had been stopped to all new schemes, saying RMT is an old housing scheme work on which couldn't be completed even 15 years after its start.

General manager SNGPL, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Haroon Khan informed the court that PDA first paid Rs100 million and then Rs300 million to SNGPL.

The bench warned him that if its orders weren't complied with, then the petroleum and natural gas secretary would be summoned.

It also directed the political agent of Dara Adamkhel tribal area and the relevant field commander of Pakistan Army to ensure safety of SNGPL employees during the laying of pipes in the said area.

The bench fixed the next hearing for February 14 asking the chief executive Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to show up with the report on compliance of its orders. It also asked the government to complete demarcation of the disputed Peshawar-Kukikhel border area from 15 to 20 days. The district officer revenue was told to submit a report on it on the next hearing.

In its order, the court stopped PDA from destroying structures on the disputed area and displacing people from there until the next hearing.

Abdul Lateef Afridi appeared for Kukikhel tribesmen and said the government didn't accept the said area's demarcation by British rulers under the Messy Griffith Award.

Kukikhel tribesmen appeared before the bench in large numbers and urged the court to stop the government from occupying their land.