The Lahore High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan. The court upheld the authority of the Competition Commission of Pakistan to continue its inquiry into the auto sector.
The Lahore High Court ruled that the appeal was not maintainable. It rejected the intra-court appeal against an earlier decision that had already dismissed Honda’s challenge.
A two-member bench heard the case and gave the verdict. The judges said the legal system already provides a proper appeal mechanism under competition laws.
The court stated that companies must follow the process under the Competition Act 2010. It added that firms should use the dedicated appellate forum instead of approaching the High Court at this stage.
According to the ruling, investigations by the Competition Commission cannot be stopped midway. The court said inquiries must continue until a final decision is reached.
The case is linked to a probe started in November 2018 by the Competition Commission of Pakistan. The investigation focuses on alleged anti-competitive practices in the automobile sector.
These allegations include on-money charges, delayed vehicle deliveries, and price increases after bookings. The commission has been examining complaints from consumers and market data.
The CCP issued several notices to Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan during the inquiry. The company was asked to provide detailed information related to the investigation.
However, officials said the required data was not fully submitted. Even after extensions, complete records were reportedly not provided.
The earlier decision of the Lahore High Court had also confirmed the legal authority of the Competition Commission. It stated that the regulator can collect information and investigate market behavior under the law.
The latest ruling reinforces that position. It confirms that the inquiry process must continue without interruption.
The Lahore High Court also clarified that companies must use proper legal channels for appeals. It emphasized that premature petitions cannot halt regulatory investigations.
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This decision is seen as an important step in strengthening competition law enforcement in Pakistan’s automobile sector.
