ISLAMABAD: The phrase “Mujhe Kyun Nikala (Why was I expelled?)” echoed in the National Assembly on Friday, this time from Sher Afzal Marwat, who asked his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) colleagues during the question hour why he was expelled from the party.
As the question hour was in progress, Marwat entered the House through the government lobby instead of the opposition side. Upon his arrival, treasury members thumped their desks.
During the question hour, Marwat said his question is only to his colleagues right now, “Mujhe Kyun Nikala” (Why was I expelled?) which sparked laughter among treasury benches, but PTI members remained silent; and the National Assembly Speaker remarked “don’t put him trouble”.
The treasury benches also supported Marwat and raised slogans “Why was Marwat expelled?” During the proceedings, PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi light-heartedly assured Marwat that they stood with him and would help send him back to the PTI.
After the question hour, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan sought a point of order but was not allowed to by Presiding Chairman Bilaal Azhar Kayani, upon which PTI’s Shahid Khattak pointed out the quorum.
On the instructions of the panel chair, Bilal Azhar Kayani, the count was made and House was not in order, so he adjourned the sitting of the National Assembly until 5pm on Monday.
In the meanwhile, replying to a question during the question hour, State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja expressed confidence that new telecom entities will enter Pakistan.
Responding to the queries of members, she said Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has started issuing virtual network licenses.
She told the House that spectrum auction will take place by mid of this year. She informed the National Assembly that the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) had been approached to review the merger of Telenor with PTCL before the spectrum auction.
She said the government is taking steps to attract more investors to the telecom sector. As part of these efforts, the PTA has initiated a public consultation process on the draft Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) license, inviting stakeholders to review and provide feedback.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary Finance & Revenue Saad Waseem Sheikh informed the House that PTCL has submitted a pre-merger application to the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) for approval of its proposed acquisition of 100 per cent shareholding in Telenor Pakistan.
He explained that the application was filed under Section 11 of the Competition Act, 2010, and Regulation 6 of the Merger Control Regulations, 2016, initiating the Commission’s review process under the applicable legal framework.
He further informed the House that the CCP has completed Phase I of its review and has identified risks of substantial competition reduction in the telecommunications market.
As the review advances to Phase II, challenges have arisen in gathering accurate data, assessing market dominance, and evaluating increased market concentration and associated competition concerns. Following extensive consultations with industry stakeholders and multiple hearings, the commission is now conducting a thorough analysis to determine the need for regulatory interventions. He said the commission has faced difficulties in obtaining relevant financial data from PTCL, as the company does not provide separate financial accounts to the PTA for transactions between PTCL and Ufone.
This lack of transparency has raised concerns about potential cross-subsidization, necessitating a more rigorous assessment.
Furthermore, PTCL holds a unique integrated license that allows it to offer a full range of telecommunication services, creating an uneven playing field compared to other telecom operators. This disparity has further heightened competition concerns, prompting the commission to undertake a comprehensive evaluation.
The parliamentary secretary stated that the CCP is conducting an in-depth analysis of the telecommunications sector, focusing on market power concentration, competitive dynamics, and the potential impact of the proposed merger. He promised that the process remains inclusive, ensuring all stakeholders have ample opportunity to present their submissions. To mitigate concerns regarding market concentration and abuse of dominance, the CCP is considering potential regulatory remedies. One key safeguard under review is the fair allocation of spectrum to prevent PTCL from gaining an undue advantage in coverage and service quality following the merger.