Damning report on favoured nominee for MD OGDCL

ISLAMABAD Removing Arshad Nasr from his post of MD OGDCL by Prime Minister Gilani at a time when a very important gas field project was going to be launched, raise questions about who was responsible for delaying the Kunar Peesakhi Deep gas field project.
Well placed sources, while talking to TheNation, said that the project could not have been delayed without a nod from the top. The sources, in support of their argument, said that Arshad Nasr was an upright person and used to take decisions on merit and in the interest of the country.
When you have this kind of person appointed as MD of a most important organisation, then what happened to make him redundant for the government. The sources said that the answer is that KPD gas field project was going to be launched and tenders had been invited and were to be opened on July 7, 2008. But, meanwhile, a strong LPG lobby tried to extend the tender opening date.
When the word LPG lobby is used, the first name that comes to mind for most people is Iqbal Z. Ahmed, who had close relations with General Musharaf and now he has very good terms with the PPP government. The lobby wanted to get the LPG part of the project and for that they needed some time so they tried to pressurise Arshad Nasr to extend the tender opening date for KPD gas field project, sources said.
But, as mentioned above, Arshad Nasr used to take decisions on merit, and he resisted and refused to do what was asked of him in terms of extending the tender opening date. That led to his removal and Zahid Hussain was made MD in his place, the sources maintained.
It is pertinent to mention here that Arshad Nasr, before his termination, wrote a letter to Secretary Ministry of Petroleum in which he expressed his reservations over delaying KPD gas field project and also opposed out sourcing LPG from the said gas field(Copy of letter with TheNation.
The sources said that KPD gas field project could produce 280 million cubic feet gas daily and if the project had started there would be no gas shortage today. The said project has the potential to earn more than one billion dollar over the 20 years field life so Arshad Nasr had opposed the outsourcing of LPG and argued to keep it with the government.
Arshad Nasrs replacement also could not manoeuvre the highly lucrative KPD project for the influential LPG mafia. This mafia has been recently exposed by the Public Accounts Committee and now all efforts are being made by the present power holders to bring forward an old OGDC hand Najam Kamal Hyder to deliver the prize of KPD to the same LPG mafia.
TheNation last week had also exposed the background of Najam Kamal Hyder when he was previously employed by OGDCL and was the Acting MD OGDCL before he retired.
Mr. Najam Hyder later described the report by this newspaper as defamatory as this was devoid of facts. He stated that some agency report from the past quoted by the corporation was not in his knowledge and may have been motivated by professional rivalry. In spite of this denial by Najam Hyder, TheNation stands by the contents of the story.
Mr. Najam Hyder while making a broad sweeping statement has not denied any of the matters mentioned in the story published by this newspaper. Neither the Petroleum Ministry has denied that his name was under consideration to be made MD OGDCL.
Here are some extractions from a sensitive agencys report about Najam Haider that was presented to General Musharaf,
a - Mr. Najam Kamal is competent officer with experience in joint venture productions and corporate affairs, b-Enjoys reputation as a morally and financially corrupt person. Accords priority to his vested interest over official matters. Exploits his official status for personal gains.
c-When under probe with NAB, he manoeuvred to remove his entire record from OGDCL, d - Unauthorizedly awarded M/S Cooper Cyber of Scotland, consultancy of US$ 25 million dollars. Reportedly, he received 20% of the value of this contract as kick back/ commission. The case is under investigation with NAB.
The sources said that later his case in NAB was decided in his favour as he allotted LPG quotas to many people including the then chairman NAB, whose name had also been discussed in the Public Accounts Committee meeting as to how he got LPG Quota from OGDCL, the sources maintained.