Consultants hired by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to auction 3G licenses mobile have hired lawyers to take legal action against the non-payment of their fees, according to a joint statement issued by the consultants.
Dr. Rob Nicholls of the Australian law firm Webb Henderson, Dennis Ward, the auctioneer training Spectrum Program Canadian spectrum management and spectrum Martin Sims specialists PolicyTracker, received three contracts PTA months – from November 23, 2012 – For the preparation of the prospectus and the acquisition of 3G licenses in Pakistan.
Three consultants now claim they had achieved more than half the work entrusted to their charge – including a long stay in Pakistan – before getting to know the termination of their contracts through the media.
Consultants say that the PTA has not confirmed the cancellation of their contracts until January 14, two weeks later.
It may be recalled here that Khawar Siddique Khokhar Dr., in a letter written to the Chief Secretary of the PM, the cabinet secretary, secretary information technology, had described the hiring of three consultants 3G auction as illegal, in violation telecom and PPRA rules and knowledge (and) the approval of the authority.
Later on the issue of hiring consultants was taken to other authorities, and finally the contract was terminated. However, according to the consultants, no payment was made to the consultants that the regulator had agreed in the contract.
The consultants received individual checks by the PTA for 10% of the agreed price, but cashing those checks found that the PTA was arrested.
“This is the check fraud, pure and simple, and is liable to imprisonment under Pakistani law,” said consultant Martin Sims.
“This is disgraceful behavior by a public body, which should be maintaining an exemplary reputation, not to damage the name of Pakistan at home and abroad.”
The consultants say they have suffered significant personal expenses and was not paid a penny for their work. They say that despite numerous attempts to contact the PTA nobody was willing to talk with them.
The three international experts are committed Bhutta, Mir Khan and recover the money. “There are many legal options available to us and we will continue to take turns until the money that is due is paid,” said Rob Nicholls, one of the consultants.
The letter of termination sent by the PTA was “ridiculous,” said Dennis Ward. She argued that the contract was void ab initio, legal term meaning invalid from the outset. “This is something that only a court can decide,” said Ward. “The PTA is legally bound by the contract, he can not appoint himself judge and jury and suddenly decide to withdraw.”
Future legal action means that the PTA is responsible not only for outstanding taxes, but also for legal fees related to the case. “The PTA is being cavalier with public money,” said Rob Nicholls. “Instead of adopting this” head in the sand, “he will make an arrangement to pay its debts and bring us back after the election to complete the auction. “
