LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Thursday suspended the federal cabinet’s decision which had amended the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority Act by ignoring recommendation of Council of Common Interest (CII).
The CJ also summoned complete record of the matter until July 27 and also sought appearance of senior officers of the CII and the Ministry of Water and Power on the next hearing.
He expressed concern over the cabinet’s act and observed that the CII should be disbanded if its recommendations were not honoured.
The chief justice issued the direction on a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Secretary General Jahangir Tareen.
The petitioner’s counsel Mustafa Sherpao said that the CII in its 31st meeting deferred a bill for amendment in Sections 13, 14 and 16 of the Nepra Act. He said the CII expressed concerned over the bill as it aimed at clipping powers of the NEPRA.
He said that the CII had also proposed to consult all the chief ministers of four provinces on this issue but it was not done. He submitted that the cabinet ignored the CII’s recommendation and approved the amendment.
He asserted that amendment could not be introduced without the approval of the CII. He said the impugned act of the cabinet amounted to bypass the jurisdiction of the council.
He requested to declare the impugned amendment as null and void.
Published in Daily Times, July 7th , 2017.
