IHC annuls suspension order of Amjad Parvez Janjua
He was PSO MD at the time of oil shortage in early 2015
PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has annulled the government's order to suspend Amjad Parvez Janjua, an official of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), clearing him in the oil shortage crisis that engulfed the country in early 2015.
Janjua was the company's acting managing director when he was suspended along with the top brass of the petroleum ministry during the petrol crisis of January 2015.
He had challenged his suspension in the high court. Janjua said he had warned the government before the crisis, in his capacity as acting managing director, emphasising that if the festering issues including bulging circular debt were left unresolved they would culminate into a national crisis.
Under his leadership, PSO achieved the highest share of fuel supply among Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) during the crisis.
It was admitted by the respondent in the court as a matter of record that despite facing serious financial hardships due to power sector receivables, PSO played a lead role in coping with the petrol crisis and stayed ahead of its targets and other OMCs in terms of petrol sales.
It was also admitted that the petroleum ministry had reported to the prime minister that the ministry and the board of directors had been constantly reviewing the performance of PSO MD.
During the financial year ending June 30, 2014, PSO recorded high sales revenue, profit-after-tax and earnings per share. Sales revenue stood at Rs1.4 trillion compared to Rs1.29 trillion during the same period of the previous year, registering a growth of 9%.
After tax earnings rose by 73% to Rs21.8 billion in the period under review as compared to Rs12.6 billion during the same period of previous year. In view of his performance, the board had commended the management led by Janjua.
However, the respondent raised objections to maintainability of the writ petition in the court by, inter-alia, challenging the territorial jurisdiction of the Honourable Court to entertain and adjudicate upon the instant writ petition, and contending that the principle of Master and Servant was applicable in the instant case.
The federal minister of petroleum is on record for stating in the media and before parliamentary committees that PSO was not responsible for the petrol crisis and had successfully achieved its performance targets.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2017.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has annulled the government's order to suspend Amjad Parvez Janjua, an official of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), clearing him in the oil shortage crisis that engulfed the country in early 2015.
Janjua was the company's acting managing director when he was suspended along with the top brass of the petroleum ministry during the petrol crisis of January 2015.
He had challenged his suspension in the high court. Janjua said he had warned the government before the crisis, in his capacity as acting managing director, emphasising that if the festering issues including bulging circular debt were left unresolved they would culminate into a national crisis.
Under his leadership, PSO achieved the highest share of fuel supply among Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) during the crisis.
It was admitted by the respondent in the court as a matter of record that despite facing serious financial hardships due to power sector receivables, PSO played a lead role in coping with the petrol crisis and stayed ahead of its targets and other OMCs in terms of petrol sales.
It was also admitted that the petroleum ministry had reported to the prime minister that the ministry and the board of directors had been constantly reviewing the performance of PSO MD.
During the financial year ending June 30, 2014, PSO recorded high sales revenue, profit-after-tax and earnings per share. Sales revenue stood at Rs1.4 trillion compared to Rs1.29 trillion during the same period of the previous year, registering a growth of 9%.
After tax earnings rose by 73% to Rs21.8 billion in the period under review as compared to Rs12.6 billion during the same period of previous year. In view of his performance, the board had commended the management led by Janjua.
However, the respondent raised objections to maintainability of the writ petition in the court by, inter-alia, challenging the territorial jurisdiction of the Honourable Court to entertain and adjudicate upon the instant writ petition, and contending that the principle of Master and Servant was applicable in the instant case.
The federal minister of petroleum is on record for stating in the media and before parliamentary committees that PSO was not responsible for the petrol crisis and had successfully achieved its performance targets.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2017.