Imran Khan Removes Nadeem Babar, Vows to Chase Cartels
Its time for punishment and not fines, the federal planning minister told the media
In a major step, Prime Minister Imran Khan removed Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar and Petroleum Secretary over oil crisis occurred in June last year.
The country’s petroleum stations had gone dry as different Oil Manufacturing Companies (OMCs) hoarded the commodity after international prices slumped of which Imran Khan had taken notice.
The whole saga occurred with alleged collusion of the top government hierarchy. A four-member ministerial committee had been formed to probe into the matter.
It submitted its recommendations in light of which adviser and ministry’s secretary have been removed.
This has been done so to make inquiry transparent and prevent it from getting influenced.
In a presser on Friday, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said both officials had not been found guilty but removed for the sake of transparent inquiry.
The minister added Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been directed to compile a forensic report within three months.
However, whoever found involved or colluded with MNCs to create a crisis to earn fortune, will face punishment, not fines, Asad Umar vowed.
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Meanwhile, the minister said a special team had also been formulated to look into the matter.
Further, different journalists appreciated Babar’s removal as he is also alleged to have made money from the crisis in reference to his personal interests in the oil industry.
Credit goes to @ImranKhanPTI for finally walking the talk of #conflictofinterest vis a vis #NadeemBabar & implementing recommendations of his ministerial committee. Hope audit & inquiry will look at all aspects of decision making to punish culprits.Well done #PMImranKhan
pic.twitter.com/iV5WNI1y5B
— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) March 26, 2021
PM @ImranKhanPTI is going after different interest groups. It will be interesting to see how his govt survives against these odds during its remaining half term.
وقت کم مقابلہ سخت۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔— Khawar Ghumman (@Ghummans) March 26, 2021
Nadeem babar removed as the country’s energy czar. About time too. One more conflict of interest plagued Advisor still left. Let’s see when the PM does the second good deed. Lots of damage already done but khair like they say, better late than never.
— Mohammad Malick (@MalickViews) March 26, 2021
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan asks petroleum adviser Nadeem Babar to step down until FIA completes an inquiry into OMCs in 90 days. Petroleum secretary sacked. Inquiry will lead to arrest, not fines: Cabinet Committee on Energy head Asad Umar says in briefing pic.twitter.com/rD7J5KFKgs
— Faseeh Mangi (@FaseehMangi) March 26, 2021
The journalists expressed Imran Khan has set a precedent by removing Nadeem Babar over the oil crisis.
They believe if the officials who colluded with OMCs got punished, it would set a precedent in Pakistan that Imran Khan is after the cartels.
In July 2020, Lahore High Court (LHC) had also declared Nadeem Babar responsible for the fuel crisis.
Interestingly, Nadeem Babar is a major shareholder in Orient Power, an independent power producer (IPP). Orient Power is the biggest defaulter of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL).
