Referring to a news report published by daily, Business Recorder on December 30, 2010, titled: "Minister fires Consultant", a spokesman of the Privatisation Commission has termed the report as totally baseless and incorrect stating the no delegation of 16 members was proposed by the Minister for participating in the London Stock Exchange (LSE) moot and no Consultant was fired on the basis of disobeying the orders.
PC has defined hiring and termination of contract rules, which are always observed purely on merit. The spokesman said that "only four officers/consultants including the minister were proposed for the LSE event scheduled on December 10, 2010 in the summary for the approval of the Prime Minister while approval was accorded for the Minister and an officer as per the present government's austerity measures and as per laid down procedure of the government.
"The delegations of Pakistani companies ie OGDCL, PPL, PR, PSMC, Banks and other entities participated in the moot at their own as these companies were showcased in the event held under the auspices of the LSE, which invited Privatisation Minister Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan for his keynote address on the occasion, which was an honour for the Country.
The event being of a paramount importance and significance to the Privatisation Program was result oriented, which generated keen interests among the business houses and investment groups of international repute. "The moot was also attended by the parliamentarians and others for their professional interest and that too not on the expenses of the PC, the spokesman concluded," the clarification concluded.