PHC directs SNGPL for provision of gas to KPTMA

PESHAWAR: A divisional bench comprising of Peshawar High Court comprising of S M Attique Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmad has stopped any adverse action against textile industry and directed to do not disconnect gas supply to units while issued notice to Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) to submit comments, on Friday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textile Mills Association (KPTMA) has filed writ petition against Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, Federation of Pakistan, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, SNGPL and Council of Common Interests seeking suspension of notification issued by SNGPL while adding to stop respondents from disconnecting gas supply till conclusion of this instant writ petition.

KPTMA lawyer’s Muhammad Yasir Khattak Advocate and Barrister Ibrahim Afridi appeared before court and informed that notification is discriminatory in nature offending Articles 4, 5, 25, 154 and 158 of the Constitution and thus liable to be struck down and declared unconstitutional and the respondents be directed to provide uninterrupted gas supply to textile units as per requirements and gas production of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and be restrained from suspension or curtailment of gas supply to petitioners.

The counsel further argued that the notification is violation of OGRA ordinance 2002 and thus liable to be struck down and declared illegal and unlawful.

The writ petition requested that declare the action of SNGPL illegal without lawful authority and ineffective upon the rights of the petitioners and also amount to contempt of court while permanently be restrained from creating unnecessary hurdles in the smooth running business of the petitioners and from unnecessary harassment.

The divisional bench of PHC has issued notice to SNGPL while directed to ensure provision of gas as per requirements of textile units and adjourned further hearing till 18 May 2022.