National reserves: SC moved against sale of gas plant in Dadu

Petitioner claims son of a key govt figure part of Zamana gas plant deal

ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court against the “illegal” sale of Zamana gas plant by BHP Billiton, an international petroleum company, on the grounds that its sale would be detrimental to the country’s interests.

On Saturday, Advocate Muhammad Yaqoob filed the petition under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution making the federal government, the prime minister, PM’s son Hussain Nawaz, Sindh chief secretary, DCO Dadu, BHP petroleum company through petroleum ministry and the plant operation manager as respondents.



“I am a BHP employee and would like to share a few facts with the government about the proposed sale of Zamana Gas plant by BHP Petroleum,” stated the petitioner. The gas plant is located in Sindh’s Dadu district.

Under an agreement, the petitioner claimed, BHP has to stay here till 2022. The company earned huge profits between 2001 and 2014 but since the production has decreased a bit, BHP has decided to leave the country.

“BHP petroleum has earned huge profits from Pakistan, which is evident from the fact that from Zamana gas plant alone they have been producing 400 mmcfd of gas per day,” it pointed out.

The petitioner revealed that a few months ago, the BHP administration had decided to sell the gas plant in order to close its business in Pakistan. “On April 2, few foreign officials of the company met Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and informed him about the company’s decision.”

The petitioner claims that the sale plan of Zamana gas plant was finalised in Britain with the son of a key government figure, who had been contacted by the company to facilitate the approval of the illegal sale.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2014.