One State-owned monopoly viz., PTCL has been sold to another State-owned monopoly viz., Etisalat on terms and conditions known only to a few individuals. PTCL was a precious national asset and was sacrificed at the altar of privatisation for the sake of privatisation.
In fact, the then Chairman of the Privatisation Commission had to beg and go down on his knees before Etisalat agreed to complete the transaction.
What were the mitigating circumstances that compelled the Privatisation Commission to stoop so low? This was a profitable entity so why was it sold in distress? Why are the terms of sale not being disclosed to the people of this country? Why are they so sacrosanct?
Etisalat is a UAE-based State monopoly and for the sake of information of all concerned the UAE does not allow foreigners to own anything except a very few things. Here, we are, we bend backwards to sell even our national assets on their terms and conditions.
I appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto notice of this and initiate proceedings against the Privatisation Commission and its then Chairman. Even NAB must take cognisance of this and launch its own investigation.