Controversy rages over 3G spectrum auction in Pakistan

Pakistan's information technology ministry sees a 'hidden hand' that wants to sabotage the process of the much-awaited auction of 3rd Generation (3G) spectrum and licences, and fears it may further be delayed if the prime minister fails to intervene in the matter.

The ministry has informed Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf about hiring of consultants to auction the 3G licences. It says their recommendations accord with the Transparency International and there is 'unnecessary' interference by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the process.

''The auction of 3G licences has already been postponed twice during the last one year or so and now some elements have again become active to sabotage the process,'' the prime minister's adviser on IT, Dr Basit Riaz Sheikh, told the Dawn on Saturday.

The finance ministry has earlier barred Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) from violating Public Procurement Rules in hiring consultants for auction of one to two billion dollars worth of 3G spectrum, clearly mentioning that ''no deviation from the rules may be allowed or tolerated under any circumstances'', documents reveal.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has already declared the hiring of consultants by PTA in violation of PPRA Rules in its letter issued on 19 December 2012. On the other hand, PTA's member finance has also sent a letter to the secretary Cabinet Division on 17 December 2012 citing all the irregularities in hiring of consultants by the PTA chairman.

Foul play was shouted by directors and members of PTA when the PTA chairman hired consultant for 3G Spectrum auction for $700,000. The two directors of the PTA even refused to become a part of what they said non-transparent multi-billion dollar 3G Spectrum auction process at the highest policymaking forum, a meeting at the PM House chaired by the prime minister himself.