LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday sought replies from provincial and local governments on a petition seeking action against hoarders and profiteers involved in sale offruits and other eatables oninnated rates.

Justice Mamoonur Rashid also sought appearance of a responsible officer from the deputy commissioner`s office on next hearing.

During the hearing, the judge questioned that if boycott of fruits could decrease the prices then why the government had failed to do so.

Judicial Activism Panel Chairman Advocate Azhar Siddique filed the petition, saying the socalled efforts of government regarding price control were based on assumptions and conjectures. Hesaid daily and essential commodities were out of reach of the downtrodden and poor and they were at the mercy of middlemen and retailers.

The petitioner pleaded that due to poor governance in Punjab, the prices of fruits, vegetables and other eatables had gone out of control and it was worse now in Ramazan.

The government offered Rs9 billion subsidy in the name of Ramazan Package, but the concept of subsidy did not benefit direct buyers but facilitated only the stockers and big market owners.

The petitioner asked the court to take coercive measures as well as penal action against hoarders, stockers and prohteers involved in the sale of products on highrates disregarding prices fixed by the authorities concerned.

The judge would resume hearing on June 8.