The Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed that the top twelve oil importers were involved in creating artificial oil shortage and made illegal money in connivance with some functionaries.
The parliamentary panel met on Thursday with Rehman Malik in the chair.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General, and Secretary Petroleum, gave a detailed briefing to the Committee on the artificial shortage of oil, regarding the failure of the concerned departments to control corruption and hoarding by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), which caused inconvenience all over the country in July 2020.
The officials informed that FIA had detected that the top 12 oil importers were directly involved in creating an artificial shortage and made illegal money in connivance with some functionaries.
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FIA officials informed the Committee that the artificial shortage and stockpiling of petroleum products was a significant problem, which caused a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.
The official informed that the demand for petroleum products fell sharply during the coronavirus.
The members of the Committee said that petroleum products faced problems in every era. Adding that the government should not only meet the shortage of petrol but also take action against those creating the artificial shortage.
Secretary Petroleum handed over all the information in the form of a consolidated report to the Committee, which was circulated to all the members of the Committee.
The Chairman Committee appreciated the Additional Director FIA and Secretary Petroleum for the briefing and the work done by them in the national interest.
An in-camera meeting will take place next week, where the FIA will brief the Committee regarding every oil importer, the mechanics they employed for this artificial shortage, and the benefit drawn out of it.
The Chairman Committee had indicated that after the submission of the final report by FIA and Ministry of Petroleum, the Committee would invite the Prime Minister to the meeting of the Committee in regards to sanctioning action against the responsible parties.
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The Committee also took up the matter regarding the alarming spread, selling, and use of a new drug, Zombie, in Pakistan, particularly in bigger cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The drug, namely, Zombie, is highly intoxicating and makes the addict very aggressive.
The Chairman Committee recommended that this drug should be added in the category of heroin, and its possession, use, and selling should be declared equivalent to the punishment of heroin.
The Chairman Committee commented that the drug is very dangerous and causes children to start strange movements and not be able to maintain their mental balance.
He said that stern actions are urgently needed against the culprits involved in this heinous crime, and law enforcement agencies should take timely action to prevent its further spread.
The meeting strongly condemned Indian involvement in terrorist activities in the region, particularly training of terrorists of Daesh.
Malik said that India is training terrorists of Daesh and preparing them for terrorist and suicidal attacks in Pakistan as there are regular training camps in India.
He said that cowardly attacks on the Hazara community are highly condemnable. Further adding that the attacks aim at creating chaos and instability in Balochistan.
Malik directed the Interior Ministry to brief the Committee regarding the involvement of India and the presence of Daesh in Balochistan.
He said that Indian PM Modi’s atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir could not be ignored, and we would raise our voice for the rights of Kashmiris at all forums.
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Talking about the vaccine to protect against the coronavirus pandemic, Malik said that although the vaccine is a good and welcome development for the world, the people of Occupied Kashmir will be deprived of this facility by the Indian government, and the international community must take notice of it so the vaccine could also be provided to them.
Senator Javed Abbasi drew the Committee’s attention to the faltering law and order situation and increase in crime in Islamabad and said that the job of the police is to protect the people, but the police killed an unarmed student in Islamabad, and his parents are waiting for justice.
The Chairman of the Committee took serious note of the law and order situation in Islamabad and summoned the IG Islamabad for the next meeting.
Senator Mian Atiq Sheikh also said that no attempt should be made to hide the facts of Osama Satti’s murder case, and an impartial inquiry should be held. The Standing Committee also reviewed some public grievances and directed appropriate action.
Senators Javed Abbasi, Mian Atiq Sheikh, among senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum and FIA, and other departments attended the meeting.
