ISLAMABAD: A lawyer app­roached the Federal Constitution Court on Tuesday to challenge the government’s decision to raise petrol and diesel prices.

Zulfikar Ahmed Bhutta, an advocate of the Supreme Court, filed the constitutional petition before the FCC under the recently introduced Article 175E(3), asking the court to order an immediate reversal of the decision.

The petitioner argued that the price hike was unjustified since the country has enough petroleum reserves to meet the demand until the end of this month.

“Neither Iran nor any other country has threatened to suspend oil supply to Pakistan and shipping routes remain fully operational,” he contended.

Therefore, Zulfikar Bhutta added, there exists no “legitimate ground” to justify such a sudden and “punitive increase”.

He said the price hike had come at a time when inflation was already eroding household incomes as prices of foodstuffs were soaring, and businesses face rising operational costs.

“This sudden increase has forced both buyers and sellers to pay today for future risks, creating financial stress in an already fragile economy,” the petition said.

Pakistan was burdened with $138 billion in combined external debt and liabilities. The country pays substantial amounts annually in interest on loans, leaving minimal resources for development and social welfare, Zulfikar Bhutta observed.

The petitioner alleged that the price hike had exposed the government’s “reckless priorities”, regretting that the decision also raised question marks about its “economic stewardship”.

“Ordinary citizens are forced to bear crippling inflation while (government) functionaries indulge in lavish lifestyles, purchasing luxury aircraft, making policies to allow purchase of 4700cc cars for their own use, and travelling in large motorcades.”

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2026