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CJ says gas import issue is a big case
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) said the case of Liquefied Natural Gas import contract is not a small issue; this is a big case, Geo News reported Thursday.A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmed and Justice Ghulam Rabbani is hearing the case.
The CJ Chaudhry said there transparency is apparently missing in the deal worth billions of dollars.
The Petroleum Ministry’s counsel SM Zafar, while giving arguments in the court, said Pakistan is facing acute energy crisis at present, adding two government officials have just given their statements before the court.
He said he would present to the court his own point of view and the two government officers presented their own.
Earlier, Special Secretary Petroleum GA Sabri and Project Manager Sharafat Naeem gave their statements to the court.
Sharafat Naeem told the court that the Letter of Support was not taken back from 4 Gas and its dated also lapsed, adding the letter of Expression of Interest was issued to 4 Gas in June 2006.
The CJ Chaudhry, scolding the Petroleum Secretary Sabri, said the ministers are entangled in technical issues to force them make such decisions as this.
The CJP said the matter regarding awarding a contract is not a science beyond comprehension.
Justice Ghulam Rabbani said in his remarks that now it is up to court to spot the transparency the contract.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv