GIDC Controversy?

Byline: MALIK TARIQ ALI - Lahore

I fail to understand logic of arguments put forth by Minister of Oil and Gas, flanked by another minister and advisors who were trying to convince citizens of Pakistan that over Rs 416 Billion allegedly collected by fertilizer companies, IPP, LPG, KESC(KE) and other GENCOs cannot be retrieved from these companies. Irrespective of whether Gas Infrastructure Development Cess levied was irregular or regular, and the Courts have once declared this surcharge as being imposed without following legal requirements, the fact remains that this surcharge was collected by these super rich individuals and powerful groups. If it was illegally levied by the Government in 2011 and the courts declared it as such, yet these companies continued to collect this GIDC from citizens of Pakistan.

How can the legal wizards employed by the State fail to notice this illegality and gross financial irregularity committed by these companies when they collected...