Rent for Och gas field

Friday, March 12, 2010
By By Dilshad Azeem
ISLMABAD: The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC), has once again issued notices to the federal petroleum minister, managing director OGDC and chief secretary Balochistan to appear before it on coming Wednesday to explain their position on Och gas fields.

Despite earlier orders, none of the minister, MD-OGDCL or chief secretary came up with the government stand in Thursday’s proceedings leaving Justice Asad Munir with no option but to issue notices for second consecutive time.

Nawab Abber Khan Bugti’s son Talal Bugti, had moved a petition in the LHC Rawalpindi Bench to get settled a longstanding issue pertaining to non-payment of the rent against exploration of gas at Och gas fields.

As his counsel Rafique Sanjrani advocate and a number of Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) activists were present in the LHC premises, the law experts opined that the court can announce a one-sided decision if the respondents in a case do not appear before it after three notices. Federal Minister for Petroleum Syed Naveed Qamar, MD-OGDCL Shah Mahboob and Chief Secretary of Balochistan are parts of the chain responsible to ensure implementation of duly signed agreements in gas exploration.

JWP President Talal Bugti, who is staying at Punjab House in the federal capital, told The News that he had moved the LHC in view of getting a speedy justice but “unfortunately the authorities, having no respect for the rule of law, are escaping the hearings. We, my party and the lawyers, moved a comprehensive petition to get released our outstanding rent amount as the authorities are deliberately stopping it for the last 7-8 years, a naked violation of the agreement singed between ours and the OGDCL,” Talal Bugti said.

He maintained that the amount is piling up with passage of time as martyred Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was deprived of it for almost five years before his martyrdom “Musharraf is the main culprit though incumbents, too, are following his footsteps.”

Asked about his claim, Talal said that the total amount may be around Rs3 billion now as no one of the owners of Bugti lands at Och received even a single penny from OGDCL under agreed rent despite President Zardari, Prime Minister Gillani, Interior Minister Malik made big promises.

About delay in moving an application before Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Talal said it was only because of his meetings with Premier Gillani and other central authorities. “Our application along with solid proofs is ready to be moved before the apex court.” The suo moto application, he said, would cover Akbar Bugti murder case, non-release of held up amount and other Balochistan related matters.

“All these issues are directly linked with durable peace in Balochistan as the people do not feel a difference between present government and Musharraf’s tyrannical rule,” Talal Bugti said.

The Balochistan package of the government, he said, mounts to put more salt on the injuries of the Balochistan people who are being further pushed against the wall.

“No one in the Centre is trying to understand as to how much essential is a solution to the real issues of that province.” Awarding exemplary punishments to those behind Akbar Bugti’s murder, immediate solution to grievances and ownership rights are a few issues on which the central government should pay immediate attention, he counted the issues.

“As to why not the federal government makes arrangements with International Police (Interpol) to bring back and try Gen Musharraf in Akbar Khan Bugti case.

At least those within Pakistan should be brought to the task,” he questioned.

The JWP president was optimistic to say that a fair trial of those nominated in the FIR in Akbar Bugti murder case can considerably help Balochistan people come out of sense of deprivation. “But this required good intentions and complete sincerity.”