ISLAMABAD - The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) convened a hearing here Friday to review its LPG pricing formula under the directions of the Lahore High Court. The hearing degenerated into threats of death and physical harm against representatives of LPG marketing companies.
“We are deeply disappointed by proceedings,” said Belal Jabbar, spokesman of the LPG Association of Pakistan (LPGAP), a collection of OGRA-licensed LPG marketing companies, and one of the petitioners against OGRA, said LPGAP statement.
“One self-proclaimed ‘chairman’ of LPG distributors—who are not independently recognized by OGRA in any case—stood up and issued threats of physical harm and death against the gathered representatives of LPG marketing companies,” said Jabbar. “All this happened as officials from OGRA and the Ministry simply sat by and did not object, intervene or interrupt this speaker.” Jabbar said this so-called distributors’ chairman also claimed to have support from the Prime Minister.
The LPGAP spokesman said OGRA recorded the proceedings on video. He said LPGAP will plead the Lahore High Court to summon the unedited recording as evidence.
“It is regrettable that the hearing between the regulator and stakeholders could only happen after we went to court seeking such an event,” said Jabbar. “We wish to work with all legitimate stakeholders to ensure rational prices that protect the interests of end-consumers and the industry. We will be highlighting today’s unfortunate developments before the Honorable Court at the next hearing on July 27.”