LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday gave another opportunity to Punjab government`s counsel to submit reply on the likely increase of edible items` prices during Ramazan as was alleged in a public interest litigation.

As the court resumed hearing on the petition filed by Judicial Activism Panel`s chairman Azhar Siddique, a lawyer of the city district government said `Ramazan Package` had been announced in order to keep the prices stable. He said the government had also constituted special teams to monitor the prices of food items during the month.

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza adjourned the hearing till June 21 after provincial government`s counsel sought time to file his reply.

Earlier, Mr Siddique had argued that like every year, the government again appeared to be helpless to control the increasing prices of commodities ahead of Ramazan. He alleged the traders had already started hoarding, black-marketing and profiteering before the start of the month. He said there was a visible rise in the prices of oil, rice, sugar, flour, gram flour and fruits.

PERKS: The LHC on Monday reserved its judgment on maintainability of a petition questioning the recent increase in perks of the national assembly`s members.

A senior lawyer, AK Dogar, had filed the petition, pleading that the layman was facing the worst poverty and unemployment in the country whereas the parliamentarians were enjoying huge perl(s and privileges at the cost of taxpayers` money. The lawyer asked the court to set aside the likely increase in the salaries of the parliamentarians. Justice Shahid Karim reserved the verdict on the maintainability of the petition. Staff Reporter