IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN  
(Appellate Jurisdiction) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Present: 
Mr. Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja 
Mr. Justice Mushir Alam 
 
 
CMA No.908 of 2014 in Constitution Petition No.52 of 2013 
[COMPLIANCE REPORT OF ORDER OF THIS COURT DATED 03.12.2013 PASSED IN 
CONSTITUTION PETITION NO.52 OF 2013 REGARDING PRICE ESCALATION OF 
ATTA/FLOUR] 
 
Liaquat Baloch, Secretary Jamat-e-Islami 
 
 
Applicant(s) 
VERSUS 
Secretary, M/o Commerce & Trade 
 
 
 
Respondent(s)  
 
For the Applicant(s): 
 
Mr. Taufiq Asif, ASC 
 
 
 
 
 
Mr. Saifullah Gondal, Advocate 
 
Amicus Curiae: 
 
 
Malik M. Rafique Rajwana, ASC 
 
For the Federation: 
 
Syed Attique Shah, Addl.AGP. 
 
 
 
 
 
Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Khan,  
 
 
 
 
 
Food Security Commissioner  
 
 
 
 
 
Mr. Abdur Rauf Chaudhry, Chief,  
 
 
 
 
 
Agricultural Policy Institute  
 
 
 
 
 
Mr. M. Aslam Shaheen, Chief  
 
 
 
 
 
Nutrition, Planning Commission  
 
 
 
 
 
Mr. Ayazuddin, Dy. DG, PBS 
 
 
 
 
 
Ms. Rabia Awan, CSO, PBS 
 
 
 
 
 
Mr. Shaukat Zaman, Director, PBS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For Balochistan Govt: 
 
Mr. M. Farid Dogar, AAG 
 
For KPK Govt: 
 
 
Mr. Zahid Yousaf Qureshi, Addl.AG 
 
 
 
 
 
Mr. Asmatullah, Dy. Dir. 
 
For Punjab Govt:  
 
Mr. Razzaq A. Mirza, Addl.AG 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For Sindh Govt: 
 
 
Mr. Qasim Mirjat, Addl.AG 
 
 
 
Date of Hearing:  
 
22.04.2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 ORDER  
 
 
  
On the last date of hearing, we had for our own 
information constituted Committees for the four Provinces. The 
Committees have made on ground visits. From their reports, it does 
appear that fundamental rights to life as given in Article 9 and a life 
of dignity as envisioned under Article 14 of the Constitution may not 
be available presently to a substantial number of citizens. This 
situation appears to be accepted by the learned Law Officers. It 
would however, be appropriate if we can have empirical data before 
us based on professionally and scientifically sound bases so that 
further proceedings and orders are grounded in facts which have 
been validated. For this purpose, the names of certain institutions 
have been mentioned by some of the learned counsel before us. Dr. 
Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Food Security Commissioner has also 
provided some information. The same is for the purpose of our 
tentative assessment but again it is necessary that a more 
comprehensive survey is conducted by qualified professionals or 
institutions having appropriate expertise.  
 
2. 
 
We would therefore, like to consider as to how relevant 
data can be made available to us. Some information based on data 
gathered by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has been provided to us 
but the same is outdated. We also note that instances have been 
provided by Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Khan which vary vastly. While in 
one instance the price of essential food items per month has been 
given as Rs.6,200/-, there is another case where this amount comes 
to Rs.14,858/-. We may also add that these figures are in respect of 
the bare, essential food items required for survival of a family of four 
comprising 2 adults and 2 children. These figures do not even 
consider the needs of such family in respect of electricity, water, gas, 
traveling, school fees, clothing, shelter and a number of other items 
which are necessary for a reasonable life with dignity.  
 
3. 
 
The Governments of the Provinces and the Federation 
are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the fundamental 
rights of the citizens of the State are met. Even amongst the 
principles of policy, it has been stipulated in Article 38(a) of the 
Constitution that the State shall secure the well-being of the people. 
We are listing this petition for hearing during the next week on 
which date the Governments shall be heard and their actions to 
alleviate the abject condition of the citizens will be taken into 
account. We will also consider the possibility of seeking a study by 
professionally/ scientifically sound bodies or individuals to assist us 
in understanding if and to what extent, there may be deficiency in 
assuring the fundamental rights of the citizens, noted above. 
Adjourned to 02.05.2014.    
Judge  
 
 
Judge  
 
 
ISLAMABAD, THE   
22nd April 2014 
Zubair 
 
 
 
