SNGPL had completed 43% of the work on gas schemes approved for Punjab, while only 13% of the work has been completed in eight of K-P’s projects. PHOTO: FILE
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the caretaker government to immediately remove the heads of the two public sector gas utilities, arguing that they may influence the upcoming polls through gas development schemes.
According to sources, the ECP wrote to the petroleum ministry, asking them to remove the Managing Director of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL), Arif Hameed, and the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) head, Zuhair Siddiqui. The chiefs of the two gas utility firms were appointed by the Pakistan Peoples Party government.
ECP’s move was followed by a complaint lodged with the poll body, stating that former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf issued several directives to launch gas development on political grounds in a bid to appease voters.
Sources said that SNGPL’s Arif Hameed’s contract was extended by a year by the former prime minister, six months ahead of its expiry. Hameed’s contract was due to expire on September 2013, but it was extended till September next year.
The complainant told the ECP that since gas development schemes were a major driving force behind winning elections, the former prime minister issued directives to launch schemes worth Rs46 billion in constituencies of influential politicians.
He added that since the heads of gas utilities were appointed by the past government, they were following PPP’s political agenda,
“Now, the ECP has come up with a strongly worded letter, asking for immediate removal of the heads of these two utilities [in order] to conduct transparent elections,” sources said, quoting the letter.
When contacted, Petroleum Minister Suhail Wajahat said he had no knowledge of the matter.
The country is currently facing the worst gas shortage crisis. Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf issued 48 directives to launch gas development schemes worth Rs46 billion in Punjab. This was a political stunt to combat Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz in the May 11 elections.
Under the former premier’s directives, SNGPL would lay 22,849 new pipelines to expand gas network to towns and villages. A total of 11,538 kilometres of pipeline had been laid thus far.
According to a report submitted to the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources, the directives were issued to launch development schemes in constituencies of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, former deputy prime minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and former ministers from PPP and PML-Q.
The report revealed that Ashraf had issued directives to launch eight development schemes in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, whereas 66 projects were approved for Punjab.
SNGPL had completed 43% of the work on gas schemes approved for Punjab, while only 13% of the work has been completed in eight of K-P’s projects. The former premier approved gas development schemes worth Rs46.6 billion since June 22, 2012 to March 2015.
The development schemes were approved in constituencies of former prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, former deputy prime Minister Pervez Elahi, chairman Pakistan Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Nadeem Afzan Chan, former ministers including Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi, Anwar Ali Cheema, Rana Farooq Saeed Khan, Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Wariach, Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari, Mahreen Anwar Raja and chairman senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2013.
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