LAHORE
Pronouncing a reserved verdict, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday disposed of over 400 petitions filed against the imposition of additional taxes on electricity bills by sending these to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for decision, thus depriving the consumers of the much-needed relief they were looking for.
Justice Ali Baqar Najafi ordered the NEPRA to decide on these petitions as per law.
Fresh Flour and others had challenged the addition of taxes to electricity bills by the government.
A few months ago, on August 27, 2023, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had sent the petition against inflated electricity bills to the NEPRA for decision.
As per the petition, illegal taxes and over-billing had caused people hardships and made their lives miserable.
“Fundamental human rights of the people are being encroached upon with wrong and miscalculated electricity bills,” the petitioner had said, and prayed to the court to declare recent hike in electricity bills null and void.
The inflated power bills had then triggered countrywide protests from Karachi to Khyber which in some instances had even turned violent.
