Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. PHOTO: REUTERS
As the controversy over petrol crisis deepens with the blame game between the petroleum ministry and the regulator, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Wednesday he was ready to resign if found guilty in the investigation into his alleged involvement.
“I accept responsibility and I am ready to tender resignation if there is any solution in it,” said Abbasi while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Chairman Saeed Khan differed from the stance of the petroleum ministry about monitoring of oil stocks and said that the regulator’s responsibility was to develop oil storages only.
While referring to the inquiry report which held Ogra responsible for the crisis, he said the regulator was to bind the oil marketing companies to develop 20-day oil storages before commercial operations.
Khan said the country had oil storage of around 225,000 tons while storages for 82,000 tons were under construction.
He said a petroleum ministry committee was responsible for the product review meeting, monitoring and even planning the stocks. “Form a committee to investigate, if we are responsible, I will be the first person to take the blame,” said Khan.
However, the petroleum minister said Ogra had been imposing fines in the past for not maintaining fuel stocks and there was still a question who was responsible for maintaining them.
Parliamentarians from the MQM demanded that the petroleum minister resign following the crisis to set a precedent. They, including Sajid Ahmed and Abdul Waseem of the MQM, said the officials had made scapegoats in the whole ordeal.
However, chairman of the parliamentary body, Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed Virk, exchanged harsh words with the committee members from MQM and said they should not direct personal attacks towards the petroleum minister.
He said there were several issues in Karachi but no one had resigned over this situation.
“Time for resignation will not arrive as the prime minister will sack him from the cabinet if found guilty in the petrol crisis,” said Abbasi, adding excessive demand for petrol in the month of January, closure of two oil refineries including Parco and NRL were the major reasons behind the petrol shortage in Punjab.
Parliamentarians from the PPP and PML-N said a conspiracy had been hatched to turn the popular voters of PML-N in Punjab against the government. “Why has Punjab suffered from the petrol crisis and no other province,” Rana Afzaal Hussain of the PML-N questioned.
Nawab Ali Wassan of the PPP said the petrol crisis had damaged Nawaz Sharif’s government. “We will never tolerate what has happened during the PML-N government’s time,” he said.
Wasim said the people who were responsible for the conspiracy against the government should be brought forward.
Parliamentarians also opposed the imposition of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) on some sectors while ignoring some influential tycoons.
They said it was unjustified to impose taxes on gas consumers for those projects which were still on paper. The committee decided to call the finance ministry officials in the upcoming meeting.
Petroleum ministry officials informed the panel that an amount of Rs94 billion had been collected on account of GIDC from gas consumers. They said the amount was with the finance ministry, following decision of the courts.
The committee also took notice of fraud in housing societies by officials of the OGDC. It sought details of officials of the company who had been involved in this fraud so that action could be taken against them.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2015.
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COMMENTS (28)
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It is a gift for those who voted Nawaz ... cheers
The entire PML-N govt should resign. Everyday it’s a different problem. Promises of ending the loadshedding, but instead we have the end of gas, power, petrol and peace. Please go away PML-N. Forever. You should have resigned regardless Mr. Minister. As you are the one responsible and therefore accountable for the overview of your ministry of which the sole purpose is ensuring smooth and cheap provision of quality petroleum products to the country. But now it’s too late, now criminal proceedings should be initiated against you as your denial to take responsibility for the hardship of the people shows that you were in collusion with the elements that brought about this crisis on the country.
Nice joke..... Commission Yours..... Verdict Yours.....you decide who is guilty..... so who will accept his mistake. Commission is a ghost who cant hold anyone from government responsible.... anymore.... this much for such commissions... But there is one thing more honorable in the World ( But i am sure PMLN ministers :) are not honorable) and that is moral responsibility for failures and crisis. Have some shame mr Petroleum minister, Mr Dar(K) and Mr Khawaja Sb.
"Petrol crisis: I will resign if found guilty, says petroleum minister"
Forget the guilty part, he should go into hiding (like he was before the oil shortage) and instead claim: "I will Resign if Found".
Its unbelievable when the 'experienced' leadership is unable to plan in advance for fuel shortages when there is one EVERY YEAR!!! Can't help but laugh at the extremely short term vision of these people...if they have any sort of vision...
If a person found GUILTY is sent to jail term. Resignation is not the punishment.
You even did not resign when your very own Air Blue plane crashed in Islamabad owing to yoru staff's (pilot) mistake!!! Anyway, we all know that beggars and ppl like us are responsible for tnr petrol crisis!!! Our biggest mistake of the recent past that we voted for you and your dumb leader!
In civilized countries and true democracies ministers accept responsibility and resign.
In gullu n Zardari democracy ministers accept responsibility and refuse to resign
If found guilty i will resign..what a joke..he should have resigned already and if he is found guilty he should be persecuted...the first day i heard of multiple cases that due to lack of petrol ambulances and vehicles could not transport people around...if there was any casualty that day due to lack of petrol...the minister should be tried in accordance with the applicable laws..
He should immediately resign for his gross incompetence. And if found guilty later than probably he should be hanged till death. Sounds fair!!!
I think his peon would be made to resign
Mr. Abbasi should not offer to resign; in fact, he should resign as a professional as well as a politician to set up an example. I believe, people from all walks of life will appreciate his step. However, the following are equally responsible for this mismanagement: Economic Coordination Committee; OGRA and Finance Ministry. Unfortunately, finance ministry and finance minister, in particular, will not be held responsible for a simple reason as he is a part and parcel of the Shariff's dynasty. I mean, Father in Law of..........................!
Who is going to investigate and prove, sir, that you are gullible? Didn't your "Democracy forefather" , the "Gora masters", taught you the term, "Conflict of Interest". How come your airline business was in full operation when everyone else faced the crunch of petrol crisis. Please stop using your cliche!
No my dear minister. let put it another way
We the public are guilty.
will you now remove us from your presence?
Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Wednesday he was ready to resign if found guilty in the investigation into his alleged involvement....
It is not a matter of finding guilty or not, looking at his own performance he should have resigned regardless.
I thought no one could be worse than Raja Rental but at least he used to look ashamed and apologetic of his failure to resolve the power crisis. The current lot deserve to get a Nobel for insensitivity (bay-hissi)
You should have resigned regardless Mr. Minister. As you are the one responsible and therefore accountable for the overview of your ministry of which the sole purpose is ensuring smooth and cheap provision of quality petroleum products to the country. But now it's too late, now criminal proceedings should be initiated against you as your denial to take responsibility for the hardship of the people shows that you were in collusion with the elements that brought about this crisis on the country.
it is not question of being guilty, it is taking responsibility which no body seems to take in Pakistan. Buck stops where ?
Mr Minister, please don't resign due to corruption. RESIGN due to GROSS INCOMPETENCE.
Shehbaz Sharif said the same about Model Town massacre......last time I checked he is still CM.
This is what they learn in the kindergarten of PMLN,they will never ever resign, no matter what. Corruption, Mismanagement, Bad Governance, Incompetence all come in handy to stay on.
And how to prove that you are guilty Mr. minister? Just like Showbaz sharif was never 'proved' guilty of Model town massacre
The entire PML-N govt should resign. Everyday it's a different problem. Promises of ending the loadshedding, but instead we have the end of gas, power, petrol and peace. Please go away PML-N. Forever.
It should not be a matter of being guilty or not, this is a matter of principle and good governance. A debacle like this happened under his watch, which has serious very implications, he should resign because of that alone. But then what do I know...
A phrase that has become quite popular among PML(noora) ministers... :)