SC Asked to Rule That Government Must Guarantee Affordable
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has admitted petitions asking for a declaration that the federal government must guarantee affordable electricity to citizens under Article 9 of the Constitution.
On Monday, a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan admitted a series of petitions requesting a declaration that it is the federal government’s responsibility to provide power supply to citizens on a least-cost basis, as outlined under Article 9 of the Constitution.
Court Proceedings
- Bench: The six-member bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, dismissed the objections raised by the registrar's office and issued notices to the Attorney General.
- Petitioners: Among the petitioners were Zaki Aijaz, Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), and Asad Manzoor Butt, President of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA). The petitioners were represented by advocates Feisal Hussain Naqvi and Hasan Irfan Khan.
Legal Argument
- Fundamental Right: Advocate Naqvi argued that access to power supply is a fundamental right, and emphasized that no power supply contract has been put out to bid in the past 30 years. He further pointed out that contracts have been renewed since 1994, leading to concerns over the lack of transparency and competition in power supply agreements.
The case is poised to examine whether the government has a constitutional obligation to ensure affordable and accessible electricity for its citizens.
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