Govt fails to remove MD SNGPL in board meeting

ISLAMABAD: The government has failed to topple Arif Hameed, Managing Director of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Company Limited (SNGPL), in the hurriedly called board of directors (BoD) meeting by Arshad Mirza, secretary to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.
Mirza miserably failed to influence majority of members of the board in getting the SNGPL MD removed, one of the top officials who attended the meeting confided to The News.
The meeting of thirteen members was called after Arif Hameed was reinstated by the Lahore High Court as managing director of gas utility. He was dismissed by the chief executive of country, Nawaz Sharif. The meeting started in Lahore very late in the Thursday evening and ended amid increased tension with the government members headed by secretary petroleum.
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi confirmed the development. He said, quoting Arshad Mirza, that members of BoD are waiting for court stay to be vacated.
In the meeting, the official narrated, secretary petroleum said that government has 52 percent shares in the company and prime minister being the head of the government has sacked the MD over being non-cooperative in finalizing the tripartite agreement between PSO, SSGC and SNGPL for smooth LNG transaction.
However, the majority of the members of the BoD refused to subscribe to the argument of the secretary amid exchange of harsh words saying that in case government wants the voting of the members to decide the fate of managing director, the government will be defeated.
It is pertinent to mention that the government needed 75 percent support from BoD members to remove the managing director which it has not possessed at the moment. However, the majority of the board members told the secretary that managing director will continue to work as managing director and they will not take part in ousting him as the matter is sub judice. The Lahore High Court has already convened both the parties on September 17 to further proceed on the issue.
Members of BoD also decided that after one week time, another meeting will be held to discuss the latest scenario. In the meeting, according to the official, majority of the members showered praise on the managing director over his output in the company and asked him to continue till the decision of the LHC.