LAHORE: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Wednesday directed a federal government counsel to apprise the court whether cabinet had approved transferring administrative control of four regulatory authorities to the respective ministries.

Chief Justice Syed Mansoor AliShah was hearing a petition filed by Advocate Sheraz Zaka challenging giving control of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), Pakistan Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Pepra), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to their respective ministries.

The lawyer argued before thecourt that the regulatory bodies had been placedunderthe control of federal government without approval of cabinet and the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

A deputy attorney general told the court that the CCI`s approval was not required for the subjugation of the regulatory authorities.

The chief justice, however,directed the law officer to apprise the court on next hearing whether the approval of the cabinet was soughtforthepurpose.

Before the chiefjustice deferred hearing till Jan 10, Advocate Zaka complained about alleged improper conduct of a judge who seized an identical petition. The chief justice asked the lawyer to take up the matter on administrative side.