ISLAMABAD, March 14 (Online): A protracted dispute with Itsalat, a company of UAE on the privatization of Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation (PTCL) comes to an end when the agreement of privatization was signed in the presence of Shaukat Aziz Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The privatization of PTCL would further attract the foreign investment, said Abdul Rauf President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in his statement.
Abdul Rauf further said that due to reservations of PTCL employees, privatization deal with Itsalat remained pending for a year and this atmosphere of uncertainty also affected the expected privatization of other organizations, but now further investment is expected with the reinstate of investors trust.
ICCI chief further lauded the concrete measures taken by Shaukat Aziz an excellent economist and Banker and his expert economic team to boost up the Pakistan economy getting rid of IMF.
The revenue attained from the privatization process would be spent on public welfare projects which would help to control inflation and poverty, he hoped.


Regards,
Sardarzada

ISLAMABAD, March 14 (Online): The United Arab Emirates has described the signing of an agreement between Emirates Telecommunications Corporation - Etisalat and the Government of Pakistan for the transfer of management of Pakistan Telecommunication Company - PTCL and its 26 percent share to Emirates Telecommunications Corporation - Etisalat on Sunday 12 March as a historic landmark and manifestation of the strong relations between the two brotherly countries.
The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Islamabad Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi, in a statement Monday extended on behalf of the Government of UAE his deep thanks and gratitude to His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf, the President of the Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Shaukat Aziz, the Prime Minister and all those who have exerted relentless and sincere efforts to realize this achievement which will further strengthen the brotherly relations and open new avenues for economic cooperation and introduction of advanced technologies.
Ambassador Al Shamsi said that on the directive of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the State of the United Arab Emirates for a sustainable support to the private sector to benefit from the investment opportunities in Pakistan, the private sector has actively complied with these directives and were further encouraged by the investment environment here. "we have witnessed on Sunday the success of two giant telecom establishments Emirates Telecommunications Corporation - ETISALAT and Pakistan Telecommunication company Limited -PTCL by signing a historical agreement with the Government of Pakistan for the transfer of management control of PTCL to ETISALAT.
The Ambassador expressed his satisfaction over the way the telecom sector was growing and considers the deal as an important move by Etisalat to serve one of the most promising telecom markets in the region and open new vistas in the Asian market.
The Ambassador quoted the Chairman and CEO of Etisalat Mr.Mohammad Hassan Imran that the PTCL employees will remain very important to the new management and will be given advanced courses periodically. For this purpose Etisalat will open a branch of its UAE academy in Pakistan. Such emplyees will be qualified also to work in other countries of operations.
Let me assure the people of Pakistan that ETISALAT will bring its vast experience known world-wide to sustain and enhance the Telecommunication industry and provide quality services, the Ambassador concluded.


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

KARACHI, Jan 27: A committee of cabinet ministers is working out a strategy for the privatization of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and will finalize its recommendations before June this year.
The committee comprising ministers and senior officials have been asked to recommend the best possible strategy for the privatization of PTCL. Well-placed sources say the committee is confronted with a pressing issue, that is, if PTCL is offered to a single group of strategic investor it will create a giant monopoly.
There will be many monopolies if the giant corporation is divided into city and town exchange basis, and that too, will create many problems for the regulator.
The PTCL privatization to one or many strategic investors is the burning issue in the ruling establishment where opinion seems to be sharply divided. There is also a question whether PTCL should be privatized at all or not.
The establishment also appears to be divided on the issue of privatization of Pakistan State Oil (PSO). A powerful section of the ruling elite prefers to retain state control over what is being described as the strategic assets.
"What are the strategic assets?" is a question that no one has answer and its ambiguity has helped the establishment put a spanner in the disinvestment process of quite a few state entities.
The only forum from where the government can get a clear verdict on the privatization and a precise definition of strategic assets is the parliament. But for last over a year, the National Assembly and the Senate have echoed with political slogans and no serious business has been taken up by the graduate legislators.
The Senate did discuss the privatization of Habib Bank early this month. But the discussion lacked depth and direction, and it was more of a match of hurling accusations and counter accusations rather than any serious debate.
The sources now expect that the HBL transaction would be finalized by the middle of the next month when its management would be transferred to Aga Khan Fund. "Transfer of HBL to Aga Khan Fund will be a big message to foreign investors," the sources quote a minister as saying. With HBL passing onto Aga Khan, 80 per cent of Pakistan's banking will go to the private sector and an investor (Aga Khan) of international repute will be incharge of one of the giant banks.
"Has the taking over of United Bank by a Middle Eastern investor made any difference?" is the argument given by a government functionary in defence of HBL being handed over to Aga Khan.
"Foreign investors bring confidence, foreign resources and management skills and carry Pakistan's goods and services to foreign markets rather than taking assets from Pakistan" is another forceful argument being offered by those who want to offer national assets to the foreign investors.
Privatization Minister Dr Hafeez Sheikh has already described the year 2003 a good year during which OGDCL shares were successfully offered to public subscription in the stock exchange.
During the current year, the Privatization Commission is set to offer 10 per cent shares of Sui Southern Gas Company, Sui Northern Gas Company, Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company, Kot Addu, Faletti's Hotel, shares of UBL, National Investment Trust and a few other entities.
http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/28/ebr1.htm

Dawn
By Sabihuddin Ghausi



Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

WORKERS AT Pakistan’s telecommunications company are fighting a privatization plan--despite a wave of arrests by the U.S.-allied government.
A weeklong strike beginning in May brought telecommunications to a standstill and rocked the country. After first promising to call off privatization of Pakistan Telecommunication Ltd. (PTCL)--which convinced the more than 55,000 workers to suspend their walkout--the government went ahead with putting the company up for sale.
In the face of more than 1,000 arrests, including several leaders of the PTCL Workers Unions Action Committee, workers were set to resume their strike as Socialist Worker went to press--despite reports that one union of the nine represented at the company had reached a deal for a return to work.
The government’s plan to privatize state industries has been proceeding at breakneck speed. Hafeez Sheikh, the government’s minister for privatization, told the Asian Wall Street Journal, “Pakistan is open for business.” “The government is moving to privatize some of its biggest state-owned companies this year as part of an effort to open up its economy and attract more foreign investment,” he said.
On the chopping block are the Pakistan State Oil Company (PSOC), Pakistan Petroleum Ltd., Oil and Gas Development Corp. (OGDC), Water and Power Development Authority, several state-run financial institutions, along with PTCL.
President Pervez Musharraf’s government began its privatization drive five years ago, though until Pakistan became an ally of the U.S. “war on terror,” it was not seen as an attractive investment for most foreign multinationals. Government officials and economists argue that privatization would make PTCL more profitable and efficient--by allowing management to fire up to half of the employees. But PTCL is already the most profitable of the state-run firms.
In May, casual employees at PTCL went on strike for more regular employment and won. Right after their success, PTCL workers gathered in Karachi to protest the privatization plan. The rally turned into a sit-in and then quickly spread across the country, as workers locked the offices and threatened sabotage of fiber optic cables unless the government negotiated.
More than 55,000 technical, clerical and janitorial staff of PTCL went out on strike in protest of the government’s announcement that it would auction off 26 percent of PTCL shares beginning on June 10.
The strike brought long-distance service to a standstill, cutting Pakistan off from the rest of the world. The action forced the government to make a number of concessions: wage increases, employment protection and job quotas for children of employees.
Ultimately, the government promised to indefinitely delay the privatization of PTCL. But this was a trick to demobilize the strike. While the union was negotiating with the government, Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan told the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the government remained firmly committed to privatization.
On June 11, Information Technology Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari announced that privatization would continue--and various Asian telecommunications giants gathered in Karachi to begin bidding on PTCL. The Pakistani government announced that the 26 percent stake was bought by a company from the United Arab Emirates.
As workers prepared for a new strike, Musharraf ordered the military to take control of key installations and to arrest some 1,000 workers, including several strike leaders. Reports indicate that family members of striking workers have been harassed by police.
Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao went on to accuse striking workers of engaging in acts of “terrorism”--because their strike was illegal and threatened the workings of the government. The government has also threatened to fire all striking workers under the 2002 Industrial Relations Ordinance, which allows state workers participating in an unauthorized strike to be fired en masse.
By the middle of the month, PTCL announced that at least one of the nine unions, the PTCL Employees Union, had caved to the pressure and agreed to refrain from striking. In the meantime, dozens of other unions and anti-privatization groups have established a committee to coordinate strike support and anti-privatization protests throughout the country.
The privatization issue has sparked a heated debate in parliament, with opposition party members accusing the Musharraf regime of catering to U.S. interests and ignoring the plight of workers. The strike captured the imagination of millions of Pakistanis--so much so that the daily newspaper, the Nation, reported that “A consensus is developing fast: that the nation should not hand over PTCL.”
The government is determined to push ahead with privatization. But they are facing resistance--not only from telecommunications workers, but other working people fed up with the growing economic and political disparity in Pakistan.


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

Ten day strike forced the Government to retreat - Pakistan Telecommunications privatisation postponed for an indefinite period
Yesterday (3 June) evening, in a massive victory for telecommunications workers in Pakistan the government announced the postponement of the privatisation of Pakistan Telecommunications for an indefinite period. This brought to an end the 10 day long strike of telecom workers.
The government and PTCL trade unions action committee has signed an agreement yesterday, after 4 days marathon negotiation session. This is the first victory against privatisation in Pakistan in the last 15 years. This is also the longest strike in the public sector in the last 36 years.
As a result of the agreement the government was forced to announce the cancellation of the bidding process for PTCL shares scheduled for 10th June. Management has also accepted the 27 other demands put forward by the Trade Union Action Committee, although details of how these will be implemented still have to be thrashed out between the unions and government.
This victory clearly shows that even what may appear impossible can be achieved through workers unity and mass struggle, determination and courage to face all odds to win. This victory, it should be remembered, was won under a military regime, whose President, the Chief of Army Staff, General Musharraf is one of the main allies of US imperialism’s policies in the region - fully supporting neo-liberalism and US military ambitions in South East Asia. Super-exploitation and the crushing of any working class opposition has been the norm in Pakistan over the last decade. And yet despite all the threats, harassment, intimidation from the state, the telecom workers showed their courage and determination to defeat the privatisation.
The agreement was signed by the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Information Technology and Telecommunications and the Secretary of Privatisation and Investment (the highest level government officials) and the 10 members of the Trade Union Action Committee. According to this agreement: “The government representatives and Trade Union Action Committee have successfully concluded negotiations in a very cordial atmosphere on the basis of the following terms:
· The privatization of PTCL is postponed for indefinite period.
· The Action Committee calls off the strike.
· No victimisation or action against the strike leaders and workers.
· All 28 demands are accepted and unions will start negotiations with management on the implementation of these demands.
· The privatisation commission will share all information with the unions and continue negotiations with them, and no further step will be taken on privatisation without the consultation of unions.”
Socialist Movement members have explained that this massive victory has come about as a result of the mass struggle conducted by the telecom workers but that thatthe danger of privatisation has not disappeared for ever. The government will try to bring this issue onto the table once again and the workers have to be ready for this eventuality.
This victory is a big inspiration for all the public sector workers and unions in Pakistan and will reverberate throughout South East Asia, including amongst the neighbouring working class of India which has proud traditions of struggle. Celebrations have already started throughout the country. Impact of the International campaign
The Union Action Committee has issued an official statement of thanks to the Trade Union Rights Campaign Pakistan and to all unions, political parties, individuals and especially Committee for a Workers International (CWI) for its support. When the leaders of action committee thanked the TURCP and Socialist Movement for its key role in this struggle in the 4000 strong occupation of the PTCL headquarters in Islamabad, workers cheered and chanted slogans of “Workers unity” and “Long live the TURCP”. The workers also made phone calls to the offices of the TURCP to congratulate its leading activists.
The International campaign played very important role in this victory. The management and government officials told union leaders that they had never experienced such a situation where so many unions and political parties sent messages of support and protest. They also said that the TURCP made this struggle not only a national campaign but also an international campaign. “I never felt such pressure before, ” said president PTCL, “with so many emails and letters of protests being received.”

PTCL privatization put off
By Sher Baz Khan
from Dawn, largest circulation English language paper in Pakistan, 3 June
Islamabad, June 3: The government on Friday put off for an indefinite period privatization of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) planned for June 10 after a deal with the company’s workers unions which in turn called off their nine-day strike, both sides said.
The decision is a major change in the government’s plan as it came after repeated government statements not to defer the sale of 26 per cent strategic shares of the PTCL. The decision to postpone the June 10 bidding was taken at a meeting of a high-powered committee with union leaders, PTCL President Junaid Khan told Dawn. The committee had been holding talks with the labour leaders over the past four days.
Privatization Minister Hafeez Shaikh had earlier on Friday said in an interview to Dawn that it was the government’s ‘resolve to go ahead with the PTCL transaction on June 10 and we hope that the protesting employees of the company would understand it’.
Mr Khan said that the committee, comprising the secretaries of information technology and interior ministries and the Privatization Commission, agreed to the workers’ demand to put off the privatization they had opposed. While no new date was set for the planned auction of the PTCL shares, the committee agreed to continue talks on the workers’ other demands such as job security, pay scales and promotions, the official said.


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

Here is a time line of events
Early May 2005 – The Pakistan government announced plans to go through with the privatization of several of its key national industries including its very successful telecommunications industry, the state oil company, and the Oil & Gas Development Corp.
May 26 – When the 60,000 workers of Pakistan Telecommunication Ltd (PTCL), one of the governments most profitable state-owned companies, learned of the plans to privatize and the potential loss of nearly half the jobs, almost all of the 60,000 workers began an indefinite strike.
June 4 – After nearly a week of service disruption, the government signed an agreement with the nine unions of PTCL. The agreement was for the government to meet all union demands, including postponing privatization plans indefinitely and to meet all demands for pay increases and improvements in working conditions.
June 6 – Negotiations between the government and the unions broke down after the government insisted that the unions sign the deal on privatization before continuing discussion plans on wages and working conditions.
June 8 – In reaction to a breakdown in the negotiations, nearly 4,000 workers occupied the headquarters of PTCL. The government began making new plans to proceed with the privatization, despite their earlier agreement.
June 11 – The government has now announced that they will continue with the bidding process in their plans to privatize a portion of the PTCL and have used military police to arrest 8 union leaders in order to ensure a smooth privatization process. However, the workers a planning to go ahead with another strike, this time with plans to switch off the telecommunications system if any more trade union members are arrested.
This is no doubt a serious turn of events.
The corrupt, military controlled government has not only backed out of their signed agreement, but they have done so in the worst possible way: by using military force.
It was not so long ago that General Musharraf was a pariah on the global scene, a military leader who came to power in a bloodless coup, and despite his promises to become a civilian leader has retained his military status. It was only after September 11 and Bush’s so-called “war on terror” began that Musharraf was reincarnated as a key ally of the U.S. and a defender of freedom and democracy.
But Musharraf is little more than a dictator who will use the point of a gun to hand over public assets to multinationals – no doubt at the behest of President Bush, the IMF, and the World Bank. (Chevron is absolutely giddy with glee to get their hands on Pakistan’s oil company, which just happens to control 70% of the country’s oil distribution. And the Siemens conglomerate tried to get their hands on the Karachi electricity supply back in February but failed after massive protests and strikes.)
If this situation bothers you as much as it does me, then please consider writing a letter of protest to Pakistan’s Embassy here in the U.S. (or to the Embassy in your country).
3517 International Court, NW Washington DC 20008


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

Magnitorogrsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) is one of the auction winners for 75 percent in Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC). Together with the partners, MMK will pay $362 million for its first foreign asset.
Consortium of Russia’s MMK, Saudi Arabia’s TuwairqiSteel Mills and Pakistani Arif Habib Securities offered the best bid of $362 million for the 75 percent in PSMC at the Friday auction. On the same day, the privatization commission of Pakistan made out a letter that acknowledged the bid as accepted, representatives of the commission said. Under the auction provisions, the partners are to pay 25 percent of the amount within 20 days and settle the remainder in 60 days of the date of the letter.

PSMC’s capacity is 1.1 million tons. The enterprise is located 40km to the southeast of Karachi, it makes flat and profile rolled metal and covers roughly 23 percent of internal market. 2005 sales reached $510 million; net profit was $108 million.

The actual stake of MMK in PSMC is yet unclear. The works will start negotiating the size with partners on receipt of the confirming letter from Pakistani authorities, said MMK briefer Elena Azovtseva. It is worth mentioning that the size of MMK’s share in PSMC will affect its other foreign project that sets forth constructing a $6.6-billion mill in India with annual capacity of 10 million tons of flat. The destiny of this project will directly depend on whether MMK gets control over PSMC, sources with the works said off the record.


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

Islamabad—Federal Minister for Privatization and Investment Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said on Monday that the Privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC) was in accordance with standard procedures.
Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari stated this while talking to a group of media representatives here today.
He said that, the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP) while approving the reference price had authorized the Privatization Commission (PC) prior to holding the bidding for Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC), to issue Letter of Acceptance (LOA) in case the highest bid is above than the reference price determined by the CCOP.
He said that all standard procedures were observed before and after the bidding of PSMC.
The privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC) was among the most transparent and successful transactions, he maintained.
PC advertised for the appointment of Financial Advisor on April 01, 2005 as a result of which 18 Expression of Interest were received while only nine parties submitted their technical and financial proposals.
As a result of evaluation only six parties were qualified and the highest ranked party Citigroup Global Markets were appointed Financial Advisor (FA) for handling PSMC privatization.
Citigroup was associated with Technical Consultants i.e. Corus Consultants, UK (Corus Consulting had already carried out detailed technical study of the PSMC, A.F. Ferguson the Financial Associates and Orr Dignam & Co, the Legal Associates.
Citi Group was therefore equipped with highly professional team to advise PC on this transaction and any question, as regard to the evaluation of the entity inclusive of land could have been any body’s guess, he said.
The Minister while replying to a question clarified that as far as land evaluation was concerned it may be kept in mind that the plant has been sold as a going concern and although the figure of land cannot be worked out separately for such a big chunk of land of 4,457 acres, yet it works out, to more specific above the going rate of land being given to National Industrial Park (NIP) out of the unbundled PSMC land i.e. Rs. 3 million per acre for developed land and Rs. 1.5 million per acre for undeveloped land.
He added that it was also pertinent to mention that out of 4,457 Acres of Land the Core Steel Plant occupies only 1.034 Acres land. 1,733 Acres of Land was for Slag dumping, slag Granulation and Skull breaking etc. This land cannot be used for any other purposes.
It has also been ensured through the Share Purchase Agreement that the Steel making process shall continue and in case of default the land shall revert to the Province, he said.
The Minister stated that standard methods used for valuation were Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Basis, Comparable Companies Analysis and Precedents Transaction methodology.
However, DCF is the most recognized method to value the concerns on a going basis. The financial Projections were prepared for ten years basis with sensitivity analysis, he informed.
The value of US $ 362 million received from the highest bidder for a 75 % equity stake (or US $ 483 million on 100 % basis) reflected the value of PSMC on a going concern basis, it took into account its ability to generate cash flows in the future after taking into account the substantial investments, he further stated.
The Minister further stated that PSMC received the highest offer above than the approved price, therefore, it could not be termed a sale at a throw away price.
The Privatization Commission was bound under its rules and regulation, not to disclose the reference price of any entity at any forum, he replied to a question.
Mr. Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari further stated all the phases of transaction i.e. inviting Expression of Interest from all local and international investors including PSMC EMG, pre-qualification, due diligence by the investors, pre-bid conference and bidding were widely publicized, which kept all the stakeholders well informed.
Those who could not deposit the basic processing fee or were not able even to submit earnest money within the stipulated timeframe to become eligible for participating in the privatization process of PSMC have missed the train, the Minister said.
He expressed his astonishment that now when the process of privatization of PSMC has been successfully completed, the individuals with vested interest were suggesting new and out of process offers, which would never be considered appropriate, justified and transparent by any economic writer, analyst or critic.
“Our government considered employees of Public Sector entities as the important and strong stakeholders and we offered Golden Handshake scheme to the interested workers to ensure that they should not be left high and dry”, he stated.
The Minister informed that as a result of such post privatization benefits to the employees so far a huge amount of Rs.6.794 billion has been disbursed as GHS among 31727 employees of the privatised Units.
With this money either they can establish some new way of earning or spend it till they get any new job. The buyers of the privatised units were bound to retain these workers for a period of one year after the privatization of any entity except in case of Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) and not to expel these employees immediately even in case of excess work force or inefficiency, he added.
He said that financial impact of GHS/VSS for the employees of PSMC was Rs.15.6 billion, which was unprecedented in the privatization history of the country.—APP


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

(Updated at 2340 PST)
KARACHI: The area spread over 4,457 acres out of under use 19,120-acre area would be given to purchaser in case of the privatization of the Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM).

This was briefed to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz by the Privatization Commission of Pakistan here today.

An important meeting presided over by the prime minister was held in December 2005 in which it was revealed that the area in which PSM’s plant is currently working is still not owned by the PSM. It was further discussed that the Sindh government have some reservations over transferring the piece of land to the PSM.

The prime minister, however, directed the chief secretary to carry out immediate transfer and to clear all the snagging issues related to the transfer of area.


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

ISLAMABAD-Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain Wednesday rescued the treasury from a clear defeat on a motion regarding privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) as opposition insisted to refer the matter to Public Accounts Committee.
As opposition blasted the government over PSM privatization, the chair turned down PPP-P MNA Nayyar Bukhari’s motion wherein he sought referring the deal to PAC for complete scrutiny, while stopping the process of handing over its charge to new group.
With MQM supporting the privatization but demanded handing over its land to Sindh, opposition also staged a protest walkout while claiming that the government has sold out PSM for Rs 21.6 billion despite its assets being valued at Rs 650 billion.
At the same time, the Opposition questioned as to who was President of Pakistan when General Musharraf and Chairman Senate Mohammad Mian Soomro were out of country last Tuesday.
The Speaker received the notification on fax when he went to his chamber. President Pervez Musharraf and Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro were out of the country when Speaker National Assembly was holding the session.
MMA leader said that delay in issuance of notification shows mismanagement on the part of the govt.
We have the right to protest the violation of Constitution, he added.
He said nobody knew who is the acting President as President Musharraf went out of the country.
However, Dr Sher Afgan Niazi Minister Parliamentary Affairs said that notification was issued on time. No violation was made, he added.
The Speaker said that may be the Cabinet Division did not issue the notification on time.
“The cabinet division had issued notification well in time and there is no ambiguity,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan said while responding to this charge.
Interesting scenes were witnessed during winding up speech of Awais Leghari as the opposition raised slogans of “No Musharraf No,” “Go Musharraf Go” when the minister critcised the past governments.
PPP-P MNA Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Chaudhry Manzoor, PML member Chaudhry Aijaz, Naheed Khan, Ali Akbar Vainse, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, MMA’s Qari Gul Rehman, Fareed Piracha, Khuda Bakhsh Nizamani, Khurshid Afgan, MQM’s Haider Abbas Rizvi, Ghulam Murtaza Satti, Muhammad Hussain Mehnti, Sher Baloch and other members also took part in day-long debate.
Khawaja Saad Rafiq, besides rejecting the PSM privatization on throwaway price, said that all the political forces would have to join hands for a single line of action to stop military interventions in future. “It was a major political mistake on part of those supported General Zia.”
The government did not pay any heed to the opposition’s demand to take the matter of PSM privatization to the PAC, and also got a nod of approval from the speaker who first gave time to the minister to conclude and then turned down Nayyar Bukhari’s motion to send the matter to the account committee.
The opposition had a clear majority when Bukhari, backed by other members, presented the motion and insisted to be taken up for voting. At this moment, treasury had only 26 against opposition’s 36 members present in the house.
Awais Leghari claimed that the PSM privatization was a transparent deal carried out after fulfilling all the requirements. “Those who talk or think about sell out or privatization of Nuclear Programme are real security threat for the country,” he said in response to Aitzaz Ahsan’s point.
Aitzaz, who delivered speech before the minister, termed the PSM as mother industry, and went on to question as to why the nuclear programme cannot be privatized when the Pakistan steel mills, is being sold out.
He, also criticizing PTCL deal, asked the government not to beg from the Arabs for privatization of Pakistan’s entities. “The Arabs have to bring their money in Pakistan and other countries after they consider it unsafe in the West in the post 9/11 period.”
Naheed Khan , delivering a fiery speech, said no one including generals can be allowed to sell out the national assets such as PSM on throwaway prices. “The 450 acres of land cannot be given to the private party without taking the matter to Council of Common Interests”
On one occasion, Deputy Speaker Sardar Yaqoob gave a “shut up” call to treasury member Ali Akbar Vainse when he continued to charge Benazir Bhutto instead of talking about the subject, privatization of the PSM.
PPP-P member Chaudhry Manzoor, backed by other opposition legislators, asked who is the front man of Arif Habib. “You cannot digest the PSM sell out as it is the mother industry. The PSM privatization is the biggest fraud in country’s history,” he said while presenting the figures.
The BNP MNA Abdul Rauf Mengal’s privilege motion regarding his detention on April 7 was referred to the concerned Standing Committee of the House. “I was detained at the residence of Sardar Akhtar Mengal on April 7,” Rauf Mengal stated before the house.
In response to a point of order, Minister of State for Finance Omar Ayub told the house that ZTBL dispersed Rs 76.21 billion in the drought hit areas of the country.




Regards,
sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....