Dr Asim serves Rs 1b notice on Ghiyas Paracha

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain has served Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA with a legal notice demanding Rs one billion as compensation for his views appeared in press criticising policies and massive corruption in the petroleum ministry. Legal notice served under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002 issued by Mansoor Ahmed Khan and Co, Karachi says that Dr. Asim is a truthful and honest person dedicated to providing services to the general public, according to APCNGA press release.It adds that certain news published in various newspapers by Paracha has demeaned his image and defamed his good name. The adviser has demanded of Paracha to publish unqualified apology and pay Rs one billion as damages for defamation and compensation for causing embarrassment and loss of reputation. Reacting on the development, Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha said that exposing corruption, criticising policies framed to benefit few influential and resisting designs to ruin CNG sector having Rs 400 billion investments is not a crime. He said that he will continue to counterattack efforts to push millions in the unemployment to benefit few and do his best safeguard rights of 3.7 million consumers of economical fuel. Paracha said that mailed notices and threats cannot hide reality and will not force him to change his just stance. Policies orchestrated in the petroleum ministry to reward nobility on the cost of masses have left country and 180 million people highly insecure which is intolerable, he added. The leader of the CNG sector said that silence over crimes against humanity is itself a crime and there must be institutions and people who will never allow interests of the masses to be compromised. He said that not a single move of Dr. Asim has been endorsed by independent oil and gas experts, despite tall claims since years, he has failed to complete even a single project and he continues to underutilise national hydrocarbon resources and impede exploration to justify imports of costly fuel. The adviser has the honour to get four secretaries changed in a short span which if probed will result in eye-opening revelations, he informed. He said that APCNGA will continue its struggle and protests unless the politicians stop preferring personal interests over national interests.