SC orders CCP to open probe against oil, ghee mills

The Supreme Court has suspended the Lahore High Court’s order regarding halting of inquiry against the ghee and oil mills, directing the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to open a probe against the mill owners by using its authority, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard a case pertaining to increase in the ghee and oil prices on Monday. 

Counsel for competition commission Faisal Siddiqui told the court that numerous complaints about hike in edible items’ prices were received on the PM Portal and the commission opened inquiry against 117 mills.

He said that the commission wrote letters to these mills before starting an inquiry against them and it initiated probe once it received the rejoinders by the mills. 

Justice Mansoor asked did the authority pass an order before writing to the ghee mills about the inquiry details. He inquired who gave the authority to the joint director to start a probe. He noticed that the inquiries were stopped on the Lahore High Court order. 

Justice Mansoor further stated that the competition commission sent notices and did not elaborate why it was summoning the mill owners. He remarked if the structure of inquiry were not followed in the beginning, then it was not possible to continue with the probe. If the commission wanted to initiate an inquiry into price hike, it should tell the mill owners about the reasons. 

The competition commission lawyer informed the court that all inquiries were pending on the order of the LHC. 

However, Justice Bandial held the LHC order in abeyance and directed the commission to start an inquiry against the mills using its powers. He observed that there were some flaws in the LHC order which warranted explanation.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case for an indefinite period of time.