Punjab govt panel told to decide roti, naan prices.

LAHORE -- The Lahore High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition of tandoor operators' association and directed an appellate committee of the government to decide the matter of 'roti' and 'naan' prices after hearing the concerns of the petitioner.

The association through its representative Aftab Aslam Gill filed the petition challenging the government's coercive actions against the tandoor operators.

Opposing the petition, a government's law officer told the court that the petitioner directly invoked the writ jurisdiction of the high court and did not avail the first remedy available in the law.

He said the government constituted an appellate committee to address the grievances of the tandoor operators.

Court disposes of tandoor operators' plea

Justice Shahid Karim observed that the court had entertained the petition after the petitioner's counsel argued that there was no platform to agitate the price fixation order of the government.

The judge said since the government established an appellate committee to decide complaints on the matter, the petitioner should approach the same.

The judge referred the petition to the government's committee with a direction to decide the matter after affording an ample opportunity of hearing to the petitioner/association.

The judge had already restrained the government from causing harassment to the tandoor operators.

The petitioner's counsel had contended that the district government was not allowing the tandoor operators to increase the prices of 'roti' and 'naan' following the increased prices of flour and other raw materials.

He said the government started taking illegal actions...