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Express Tribune
24-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Surging prices: govt lawyer seeks time to submit reply
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has adjourned proceedings on a petition challenging the surge in prices of essential food items during Ramazan after the provincial government's lawyer requested time to submit a response. The petition, filed by Munir Ahmad through Advocate Azhar Siddique, argues that despite repeated concerns, authorities have failed to stabilize prices, leaving the public struggling to afford basic commodities. The petitioner urged the court to take strict action against hoarders and profiteers who are selling essential goods at inflated rates in violation of officially fixed prices. He pointed out that while Ramazan is a sacred and eagerly awaited month, it is marred each year by soaring prices of food items, making it difficult for peopleespecially the underprivilegedto afford necessities for breaking their fast. The petition highlighted that inflation, already a persistent issue, worsens during Ramazan, depriving low-income families of access to essential food items such as fruits and staple goods. With Ramazan set to begin in March 2025 and the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 approaching, the petitioner alleged that black marketers and hoarders have once again driven prices to exorbitant levels. He criticised the authorities for failing to implement a policy or strategy to curb this annual price surge, allowing profiteers to exploit the public unchecked. The petition also cited reports from the national press highlighting public distress over the rising cost of daily essentials. The LHC will resume hearing the case once the government submits its reply.
Express Tribune
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI and others challenge PECA in LHC
Listen to article Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), along with civil society and journalistic organisations, has challenged the PECA Amendment Act 2025 in the Lahore High Court. Opposition Leader of the Punjab Assembly, Ahmed Bachhar, along with others, filed the petition against the PECA Act 2025 through Advocate Azhar Siddique. The petition has named the provincial government, the Chief Secretary, and others as respondents. The petition argues that the PECA Amendment Act violates Article 19-A of the Constitution. It states that the Act does not define "fake news," allowing authorities to label any news as fake and take action on political grounds. According to the petition, the amended Act requires journalists to disclose their news sources, which is a violation of journalistic ethics. The petition requests the court to declare the PECA Amendment Act unconstitutional and annul it. Additionally, it urges the court to halt any actions under the Act until a final decision is made. Earlier, a division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday sought more arguments on the admissibility of a petition against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment Act (Peca), while another petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the legislation. The SHC bench, led by Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, took up the petition against Peca amendments. Barrister Ali Tahir, the lawyer for the petitioner, informed the bench that they had challenged sections 2R and 26A of Peca. The lawyer said that the Section 26A criminalised the transmission and receipt of information by declaring it "false and fake". He added that sections G and H of the act used the words "false, fake and misrepresentation" in a very vague manner. Previously a petition was filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan challenging the recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), citing concerns over their impact on freedom of speech and human rights. The plea, moved by citizen Filed by Muhammad Qayum Khan, urged the apex court to strike down the amendments, calling them "ultra vires" to the constitutional authority of the legislature. The petition also seeks a full court review of both the recent changes and the original PECA law, arguing that they violate fundamental freedoms.
