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LHC declares fuel price adjustment in electricity bills ‘illegal’

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  • LHC Judge Ali Baqar Najafi announces verdict.
  • Court nullifies change in tariff without hearing consumer.
  • NEPRA directed to take action against overcharging.  

LAHORE: In a major decision, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday declared the imposition of fuel price adjustment in electricity bills illegal.

LHC Judge Ali Baqar Najafi announced the verdict, which was reserved on October 10, 2022, on similar petitions amounting to 3,659.

The court declared that “the demand of fuel price adjustment, quarter tariff adjustment, change of status of tariff from industrial to commercial by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) not constituted fully under section 3 of the NEPRA Act, 1997 is illegal,” read the judgement.

The court also nullified the change in tariff without hearing the consumer and directed NEPRA to take action against the overcharging.

The regulatory body has been directed to inform the consumers about the charges on a monthly basis and the fuel price adjustment shall not go beyond seven days and the quarter tariff adjustment shall not go beyond the statutory period, the verdict said.

The court directed NEPRA to fix the responsibility of over-charging on the basis of line losses and the less efficient power plants and the financial burden will also be shared by the companies under a rational proportion.

The court also directed the federal government to provide a maximum subsidy to the domestic consumers of 500 units per month and to not demand extraordinary taxes “having no nexus with the consumption of energy which may be recovered through other modes”. 

“The NEPRA authority must keep in mind while deciding about the tariff that interaction between the consumer and the producer should not be excited by the fiduciary relationship for the simple reason that to earn huge profit the performance of the producing company must increase and not the price be increased and, therefore, imposition of various taxes which can be recovered otherwise, amounts to economic strangulation of the consumers,” read the verdict.

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The Senate will meet tomorrow at 4:30 PM, while the NA will meet today at 5:00 PM.

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The National Assembly will convene today at 5:00 PM at Parliament House in Islamabad.

The Senate session is scheduled for tomorrow at 4:30 PM at Parliament House in Islamabad.

Both houses will discuss national and international issues in addition to legislative business.

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Government Hajj Scheme: Today is the last day to submit an application for the Hajj.

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The government’s hajj program is ending today, and applications are being accepted nationwide by approved banks.

So far, more than 72,000 applications have been received, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Candidates can join their family members’ hajj groups, and Pakistanis living abroad can sponsor their loved ones to perform the Hajj.

The first payment for applications is two hundred thousand rupees, and the second installment, which is four hundred thousand rupees, can be submitted within ten days following the balloting.

Until February 10th of the following year, the remaining sum must be turned in.

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VPN use is neither illegal nor un-Islamic, according to the head of the Council of Islamic Ideology.

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Dr. Raghib Naeemi, Chairman of the CII, discussed his views on social issues, legal reforms, and VPN implementation.

According to Raghib Naeem, using a virtual private network (VPN) causes blasphemy, religious defamation, or the spread of disturbance, which makes it unlawful and un-Islamic.

He claimed that within certain bounds, Article 19 guarantees social peace, religious tolerance, and national integrity.

A query on the seminary registration issue was answered by the CII chairman, who stated that if there is proof of money laundering through madrassas, the management of those institutions will face legal action.

Additionally, he stated that it is unethical and illegal to exchange human baby milk.

Continue reading: Another declaration on VPN use from the Council of Islamic Ideology

In addition to suggesting legislation capping dowries at one tola (11.66 grams) of gold, Dr. Raghib Naeemi suggested moving the authorization for a second marriage from the wife to the Union Council.

Prior to this, the Council of Islamic Ideology stressed the significance of encouraging responsible digital citizenship and utilizing technology in accordance with Islamic teachings.

Though their use should be constructive and appropriate, VPNs are not intrinsically illegal, according to the Council of Islamic Ideology.

“Thoughts and ideas can be expressed effectively on social media for admirable ends. The statement said, “Muslims must adhere to Islamic teachings, utilizing social media to spread Islamic knowledge, education, and training.”

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