MULTAN, Sept 30: Authorities at the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited are reportedly perplexed over the ‘legality’ of the audit committee meeting chaired by an official who has long been transferred from the petroleum ministry.

Sources in the SNGPL said the company’s 17th audit committee meeting was held on Sept 22 last in Lahore with Iqbal Awan, currently a joint secretary in the finance ministry, in the chair.

They said Mr Awan had been transferred from the petroleum ministry a few months ago. He had held directorship of a number of companies, including SNGPL, while working under the petroleum ministry. “Once an official is no more a part of the petroleum ministry, he is also deprived of the portfolios he held in the wake of his office,” they said.

The sources said the audit committee headed by Mr. Awan cleared all annual accounts of SNGPL. “Proceeding and decisions of the committee presided by an ‘outsider’ needs to be viewed under the Companies Act,” they said.