The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to carry out investigation against 89 CNG stations that were granted licences during the last five years and present a report before the court on the issue.
The directions were issued by a three-judge bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed during hearing in a suo motu case regarding award of CNG licences during the previous regime.
During the last hearing, the FIA had presented 1,541 cases of CNG stations that were awarded licences and taking action, the apex court directed the FIA in Monday’s hearing to take 20 cases randomly out of 1,541 from the provinces, while five from the Islamabad Capital Territory.
The court also directed the FIA to conduct inquiry on 64 cases that were granted licences between June 1, 2011 and July 8, 2012, while a ban was imposed on licensing.
The court directed the FIA to conduct a detailed inquiry in a total 89 cases and submit its report before the bench on the next date of hearing.
During the course of proceedings, Iftikhar Gilani, counsel for Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), informed the court that during the regime of present chairman OGRA, no licence had been awarded to any applicant.
Justice Sh Azmat Saeed inquired about the policy being followed by OGRA for awarding extension on provisional licences.
Gilani said they followed certain policy and an NOC was granted for this extension.
Justice Saeed remarked that provisional licences must be extended only in special circumstances, questioning Gilani to explain the maximum extension period.
To this, Gilani replied that initially two years extension was given and later on it was further extended to 15 years.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said nothing could go well “until you put your own house in order”.
Gilani said during the regime of current OGRA chairman, the house was well in order, as not even a single licence was awarded by the current chairman.
The CJP remarked that rules and regulations must be followed at every cost as it suits to the country.
The court in its order directed continuing awarding the new licences per rules and regulations, however, there would be ban on the extension/renewal until and unless in cases where the civil works were completed 100% and they fulfilled the criteria.
The bench also placed a complete ban on shifting the sites of the CNG stations except in cases where it was forced by the government in case of construction of roads or security issues.
Later, the court adjourned proceedings for a period of six weeks.