Inquiry committee on LNG: findings to be submitted to Prime Minister on February 17

The findings of High Powered inquiry committee on LNG being submitted to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on February 17 may raise some questions over credibility as the committee has completed the report without listening to principle dealing Officer LNG Mashal Project G A Sabri.
Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet in its decision has scrapped proposal to award contract to ''4Gas'' and directed fresh bids be invited in light of the opinion of Law Ministry. Two officials had been dealing with LNG project-former Special Secretary Petroleum G A Sabri and Naeem Shrafat project director LNG Mashal Project in SSGCL.
When contacted G A Sabri, he said that committee had never called him at any stage during investigation of the issue. "I should have been called being a principle dealing officer of the LNG project before committee, Sabri said adding that, however, it depends on Committee whatever it likes.
According to terms and reference, Inquiry committee could investigate only officials and not the Minister. G.A Sabri during proceeding in Supreme Court had said that nothing had been done without approval of the Petroleum Minister Syed Naveed Qamar.
According to statement issued by Petroleum Ministry, High Powered inquiry committee on LNG completes its proceedings, will submit its report to the Prime Minister on February 17, 2011: Petroleum Ministry Pursuant to judgement of Supreme Court of Pakistan in Suo Moto Case No 5 of 2010, two summaries titled ''Pakistan Mashal LNG Project'' and ''Pakistan LNG Import - Short Term LNG Project''. ECC vide its decisions dated 20/07/2010 inter-alia directed to first obtain views of Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs (MLJ&PA) in order to ensure that the proposals submitted by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources are in conformity with the directions of the Court.
In response to Ministry of Petroleum and NR''s reference in the matter, MLJ&PA inter-alia, viewed that "...... the proposal for the initiation of the new process qua the selection of developer and in all cases giving the treatment at par and observance of PPRA Rules in strict sense is in the spirit of the judgement of the Supreme Court......."
In view of above opinion of MLJ&PA, ECC of the Cabinet directed M/o Petroleum to reinitiate the process which decision has been accordingly conveyed to SSGCL for compliance. SSGCL is in the process of reinitiating International re-tendering on fast track basis. In compliance to the honourable Supreme Court''s observation in its order mentioned above regarding omissions, commissions and irregularities involved in the process, the Prime Minister constituted a high powered committee under Zafar Mahmood, Secretary Commerce. The Committee has completed its proceedings and will submit its report to the Prime Minister on February 17.