Balochistan High Court Issues Contempt Notice to SSGCL Officials Over 13-Hour Gas Outages
Quetta: The **Balochistan High Court** has issued a **show-cause notice for contempt of court** to senior officials of the **Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL)** over prolonged gas load-shedding and non-compliance with court orders.
A division bench comprising **Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech** and **Justice Sardar Ahmad Haleemi** expressed strong displeasure at the company’s conduct, terming it a **“deliberate neglect of public interest”** and a **violation of Articles 25 and 158 of the Constitution**, which ensure equality and provincial rights over natural resources.
The court rejected the report submitted by SSGCL as **unsatisfactory and disappointing**, stating that it merely contained names without any concrete accountability or remedial measures.
During the hearing, a case of a **disabled consumer who received a gas bill of Rs. 500,000** was also presented, prompting the court to express astonishment at the company’s practices.
The bench noted that citizens in **Quetta and other parts of Balochistan** are suffering daily **gas outages lasting up to 13 hours**, causing immense hardship, especially during the approaching winter season.
The court warned that further disregard for its orders would result in **strict legal action** against responsible officials.
