$25 billion LNG import deal: Supreme Court directs Finance, MoP to submit reply by April 12

After taking suo-motu notice of reportedly one billion dollar loss to national exchequer, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the ministries of Finance and Petroleum to come up with an answer, on April 12, regarding the award of 3.5 million tons liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract, worth $25 billion, to the highest bidder.
Headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, a seven-judge bench noted that it would not pass any restraining order at this juncture, but hinted at initiation of criminal proceedings against the guilty, when responsibility is fixed. The bench also invited former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin for a reply.
In addition, the court issued notices to the ignored bidders: Fauji Foundation and multinational energy firm Vitol. Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday remarked that the court was hearing a suo motu case of corruption, but would be alleged for overstepping of jurisdiction.
The Chief Justice observed that damage to national kitty would not be allowed. Earlier, on April 1, while taking notice of the issue, the court had noted that "a huge loss has been caused to the public exchequer as a result whereof public at large has been deprived of this amount, which could be utilised for their welfare and, prima facie, such actions seem to be in violation of fundamental rights, principle of transparency and equal opportunity. Therefore, this office note be treated as petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution".
Appearing on court notice, the journalist who unveiled the scandal (Rauf Klasra) stated that top officials in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources had awarded a multi-billion dollars contract for 3.5 million tons LNG import to a French firm after ignoring the lowest bid jointly offered by the Fauji Foundation and the Vitol. He also submitted the minutes of the Economic Co-ordination Committee meeting to the bench.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed, Justice Tariq Parvez, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and Justice Khalil-Ur-Rehman Ramday issued these directions while hearing a suo motu case taken up on a news item.
The news item said that Pakistan lost one billion dollars after the top guns of the Petroleum Ministry ignored the lowest bid of the Fauji Foundation and the multinational energy firm, Vitol, for 3.5 million tons LNG contract worth $25 billion, and awarded it to the highest bidder, a French firm. It further stated that the mega scam might have been buried in the official files if Lieutenant General Rab Nawaz, MD of Fauji Foundation had not strongly protested with the then Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin over the decision.
Even the Prime Minister and his Cabinet were not on board, and everything was done and managed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and the ECC, it added. Naved Qamer, Minister for Petroleum has denied all these charges, and claimed that FF/Vitol offer did not suit the Ministry as Pakistan badly needed LNG to meet its rising energy requirements on urgent basis.