The National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources approved recommendations for The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2011. The Committee that met on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Talib Hussan Nakai has proposed oil and gas theft a non-bailable offence with maximum jail term of 14 years and fine of Rs10 million for damaging the main oil and gas pipelines. As per proposal an additional Chapter will be inserted in the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 namely, “Chapter XVII A of Offence Relating to Oil and Gas”. The approved draft of proposed amendment Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2011 will be tabled in National Assembly during the current session. The draft bill proposed following punishments for tempering with gas meters and gas pipelines.
Tampering with Auxiliary or Distribution Pipeline of Petroleum: Any person who tampers or abets in tampering with auxiliary or distribution pipeline of petroleum for the purpose of theft of petroleum or disrupting supply of petroleum will be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to 10 years and slapped with a fine which may extend to Rs3 million.
Tampering with gas meter: Any person who tampers or abets in tampering with any gas meter, regulator, meter index, or gas connection or any other related system and equipment, whether to commit theft of gas or for the purpose of unauthorized distribution or supply of gas shell be punishable in case of: a domestic consumer, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to RS 100,000 or both. In case of industrial and commercial consumer, tempering with gas meter will be liable for imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 to 10 years and fine which may extend to Rs5 million or both.
Damaging or destructing the transmission line: Any person who damages or destructs any transmission or transportation lines by an act of subversion by explosive material or in any other manner so as to disrupt petroleum supply shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to 14 years and fine which may extend to Rs10 million but shall not be less than Rs1 million.
Tampering with Petroleum pipelines etc: It is said in the bill that any person who willfully tampers or attempts to tamper or abets in tampering with a facility (gas pipeline) installation or main pipeline for termination or transportation, as the case may be, of petroleum is said to commit tampering with petroleum pipelines.
