Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the Ministry of Communications and other respondents, seeking their replies in a petition challenging the 50% increase in motorway toll tax for vehicles with insufficient account balances.
The case was heard by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar on a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel.
Counsel for the petitioner, Mahfooz Bukhari, appeared before the court.
During the proceedings, Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar observed that the matter appeared to fall within the government’s policy domain, asking, “What can we do in a policy matter?”
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the 50% increase in toll charges imposed on vehicles with low account balances is arbitrary, excessive, and without reasonable justification.
Following the hearing, the court issued notices to the Ministry of Communications and other respondents, directing them to submit their responses.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned.
The Judicial Activism Panel has challenged the notification dated 3 June 2025, through which the increase in motorway toll tax was introduced.
