LHC Dismisses Honda Atlas Petition Against CCP
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed a petition filed by Honda Atlas that challenged an ongoing inquiry initiated by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).
Justice Raheel Kamran issued a detailed verdict, rejecting the objections of the company and confirming the right of Commission to collect data from car makers.
The court ruled that the CCP possesses complete powers to collect information and conduct investigations under the Competition Act 2010, applicable throughout Pakistan.
The verdict highlighted that the Supreme Court had previously validated the authority of CCP in the Dalda case, strengthening its legal jurisdiction over competition-related matters.
The Lahore High Court instructed the Competition Commission to conclude its ongoing inquiry within six months to ensure transparency and timely resolution of the case.
CCP had launched an inquiry into the automobile sector in November 2018 after receiving complaints about consumer exploitation, unfair sales practices, and repeated price increases.
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Honda Atlas Cars became part of the investigation over suspected violations of Sections 3 and 4 of the Competition Act 2010 related to anti-competitive conduct.
From 2018 to 2022, the Commission issued several formal notices seeking detailed data on car production, pricing, booking procedures, imports, and localisation initiatives from the company.
Honda repeatedly sought deadline extensions to submit complete information, while CCP officials visited its manufacturing facilities in 2019 and 2021 to verify relevant details.
In October 2022, the Commission demanded additional financial and investment data from Honda and its parent company, leading the automaker to raise legal objections.
Subsequently, Honda filed petitions in the Lahore High Court, challenging the jurisdiction of CCP after the 18th Amendment shifted trade matters to provincial authorities.
The Lahore High Court had granted a temporary stay order, halting the inquiry proceedings while multiple hearings on the jurisdictional dispute continued before the bench.
