The Supreme Court of Pakistan has agreed to hear Jamaat-e-Islami’s petition challenging the imposition of fuel price adjustment (FPA) surcharges in electricity bills. The decision came after the court addressed and removed objections from the Registrar’s Office.
During the hearing, Justice Jamal Mandokhail highlighted that the taxes collected through electricity bills are deposited into the national treasury. Meanwhile, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi questioned whether Jamaat-e-Islami had previously raised objections during the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) hearings on electricity tariffs.
Justice Rizvi acknowledged that electricity theft significantly contributes to line losses but noted that Jamaat-e-Islami has actively campaigned against such practices. The petitioner’s counsel argued that various surcharges and taxes, including the FPA, unfairly burden consumers through electricity bills.
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The council emphasized that the petition specifically challenges certain surcharges and the Fuel Adjustment Dispute (FAD). In response, the court decided to hear the case alongside the ongoing Independent Power Producers (IPPs) case for a more comprehensive review.
Following initial arguments, the Supreme Court accepted Jamaat-e-Islami’s plea against the fuel price adjustment surcharges and agreed to hear the petition in conjunction with the IPP case. This move signals the court’s intent to address the implications of electricity pricing and surcharges on consumers.
