By Mehtab Haider
ISLAMABAD: After heated debate during its five- hour-long proceedings on Wednesday, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance unanimously approved the competition bill with certain amendments, including replacement of the high courts with independent appellate tribunals for hearing appeals against the CCP decisions.
The committee also approved adjustments in penalties amount, as the clause of penalty was recommended to increase the fixed amount from Rs 50 million to 75 million while reducing the limit of turnover from 15 percent to 10 percent in case of proven cartels.
It was also approved to insert that, on the basis of reasonable ground, the CCP will be allowed surprise searches of premises of business enterprises. Despite certain amendments, the CCP considered that the approval of the competition bill in its existing shape will not convert it into a toothless regulator and it will be a win-win situation for promoting competition as well as protecting the rights of consumers.
The National Assembly had approved to insert the high courts for giving the right of appeal against decisions of the CCP, which was initially the right of the Supreme Court in accordance with the Competition Ordinance 2007. “The approval of competition bill is a victory of consumers,” the Chairman Standing Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Ali of MQM, said after approving the competition bill with consensus during the meeting, which was held here at the Parliament House.
Senator Ahmed Ali further said that he never faced such a difficulty on approval of any bill, as was witnessed in the case of the competition bill, during the last seven years of chairing the standing committee.
When there was division on giving right of appeal to the high courts from some senators, Chairman Ahmed Ali gave his verdict that if there was no consensus, then voting would be done to decide this matter. The committee also reviewed to allow the Islamabad High Court for hearing cases against the CCP decision but finally the consensus was struck on appellate tribunals with three member bench headed by a retired SC judge along with two other experts. The tribunal will be bound to take a decision within a six-month period.
With the approval of adoption of amendments of the committee by the Upper House, the bill will again be referred to the NA for granting its assent on changes into the bill, as the mediation committee was already abandoned after approval of the 18th Amendment in the Constitution.
Source: The News
Date:5/6/2010
