IHC clubs cases against increases in toll tax, 50pc surcharge on motorway fines

ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the consolidation of all cases challenging increases in toll tax on motorways and major highways and the imposition of a 50 per cent surcharge on traffic fines, directing that the matters be fixed for hearing next week.

Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar issued the directions while hearing a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel.

During the hearing, an associate of petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique appeared before the court along with representatives of the National Highway Authority (NHA).

The chief justice remarked that toll charges had continued to rise, questioning how the NHA could increase them on its own. He observed that the toll had exceeded Rs1,100.

The NHA’s counsel responded that toll rates had not been increased for four years and said he would assist the court on the matter. The chief justice directed the lawyer to submit the authority’s response in a form that could be uploaded online.

The NHA’s counsel also informed the court that a similar case pending before another bench involved a stay order concerning M-Tag requirements, adding that motorists were no longer getting M-Tags. He said the other case was pending before Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir.

The chief justice directed that the related case be summoned along with other petitions so that all matters could be heard together next week.

He also asked the associate counsel to ensure the petitioner’s lawyer appeared at the next hearing, adding that the court would proceed with the cases even if the counsel failed to attend.

The court subsequently adjourned the hearing until next week.