Arif Rana
ISLAMABAD: The PTI government is facing difficulty to defend massive hike in POL prices.
Its own ranks seem divided over the issue. On one side, some ministers held press conferences in Islamabad to defend the increase and on the other hand, its own stalwarts like Fawad Chaudhary mocked the government publically by confessing that it is difficult to defend increase of Rs 25 per litre.
Meanwhile, PML-N increased pressure on the government and termed the hike in petroleum products prices anti-people. The PML-N demanded resignation of the prime minister to avoid further damage to the country.
With unexpected and unbelievable jump in petroleum products prices, the ‘official mafia’ comprising senior officials of the Petroleum Division has won and public at large has lost in the day light.
Sudden and major increase in all POL prices has shocked the whole nation which is already in severe financial crises due to on-going deadly Covid-19 pandemic. The government announced unprecedented increase up to 25 per cent in the price of oil products.
As per law, the government in consultation of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) reviews the prices of oil on 30th of every month and announces revision on either side from first of each month. But OGRA was not consulted for the upward revision in the question. One wonders what forced the PTI government to take unilateral decision to increase the prices four days before the decided date.
With such a big increase in petroleum products prices, the PTI government has given a clear message to the public that this government is of the mafia, by the mafia and for the mafia.
One saddening side of the story is that today one can understand as to why Director General (Oil) Shafi-ur-Rehman Afridi shared a secret letter apparently written to Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), with oil marketing companies (OMCs). Mr Afridi wrote a letter to OGRQ in which he claimed increase in petroleum products for July.
Is his letter not enough to establish the fact that he is misusing his official position for vested interest? As per rules, the prices of the petroleum products for any next month are calculated on the average price of first 21 days of the current month. Keeping in view, how come the DG (Oil) knows on June 1 that the prices of petroleum prices will go up.
This letter is the worst case of misusage of official authority by a senior government official. Secondly, can somebody ask the DG on whose authority the committee headed by him to investigation oil shortage in June filed a first information report (FIR) in Karachi when an FIR had already been registered on the same subject in Islamabad?
Only a criminal mind can take such step, knowing that in the presence of two FIRs police will not act against OMCs and ultimately the prime minister’s orders will die down and meanwhile the government will increase the oil prices. This strategy of official mafia involved in jacking up oil prices for July has worked up to their expectations. With sudden increase by 25 per cent in oil, this crooked official mafia has given benefit of Rs 25 billion to OMCs. This benefit actually exported illegally for the public.