The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday sought responses from the Ministry of Communications and other respondents on a petition challenging a notification imposing a 50 percent surcharge on motorway tolls for vehicles with insufficient M-Tag balance.
IHC seeks government’s response to challenge against 50% motorway toll surcharge
ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday sought responses from the Ministry of Communications and other respondents on a petition challenging a notification imposing a 50 percent surcharge on motorway tolls for vehicles with insufficient M-Tag balance.
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel and issued notices to the respondents, directing them to submit their replies. During the hearing, the chief justice observed that the matter appeared to be a government policy issue and questioned the extent of the court’s intervention.
Counsel for the petitioner, Mehfooz Bukhari, argued that the 50 percent increase in toll charges for vehicles with low M-Tag balance was arbitrary, excessive and without lawful justification.
The court issued notices to the Ministry of Communications and other respondents and adjourned further proceedings.
The Judicial Activism Panel has challenged the June 3, 2025 notification introducing the enhanced toll charges for vehicles with insufficient M-Tag balance.
