Islamabad - Former Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Husain’s detention by law enforcing agencies yesterday has surprised many in the capital.
Who detained him and on what charges was the question asked in whispers in the corridors of Pak Secretariat, housing major ministries, including petroleum and natural resources, where LNG deal had been finalised behind closed doors. The speculations intensified when NAB denied taking him into custody.
There are many allegations against Hussain. In June 2012, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), in a multi-billion-dollar Mashal Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import project scam probed a number of federal ministers and high-ranking bureaucrats, including Dr Asim.
Dr Asim has also been alleged of massive irregularities in Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, when he was at a top slot in the authority.
The LNG import project was mired in controversy, from the alleged dubious inclusion of Shell and the ignoring of qualified bidders to the unbundling of the project. The multibillion dollar contract was awarded to Dutch firm 4 Gas and French firm GDF, but was scrapped soon after the case landed in the Supreme Court.
According to then Petroleum Secretary Ijaz Chaudhry, NAB took the record of the Mashal LNG project into custody from the ministry of petroleum and natural resources for probe, in 2012. At that time, a tussle reportedly emerged between PPP lawmaker Naveed Qamar and GA Sabri, who was in favour of tabling a proposal of Vitol/Fauji Foundation to ECC along with Mashal LNG import project, while Qamar sought the ECC’s approval to engage Shell in the project.
The other factor said to have led to LNG scam was the unbundling of the import project, for which Sabri was allegedly held responsible.
GA Sabri, now living a retired life takes all the responsibilities of all the projects and agreements finalized during his tenure as Secretary Petroleum.
I take full responsibility of all the projects approved by my signature as I neither did anything wrong nor allowed anyone to do when I was holding the office, Sabri claimed, while talking to the scribe.
In 2012, the top management of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), including Hussain was alleged of issuing fake and bogus medical registrations to medical students. A local court this year issued arrest warrants of Dr Asim Hussain, and some other officials of PM&DC for presenting a fake gazette notification regarding their appointments before a standing committee of the national assembly.
But some believe the allegations this time are of serious nature and are other than the reported scams.
A well placed source in petroleum industry pointed out that during his tenure in 2009, carbon tax policy was something which was scandalous and was strongly opposed by the stakeholders, in addition to the allegations of fake degrees and LNG deal. He, however, said that the former minister has been picked up on some new charges.
It could not be carbon credit or LNG, or fake degree case; it is something which is still unknown and not reported, said sources, who had served with Hussain at a top position. He denied to make further comments and said the allegation would surface soon.