YOUR editorial, 'Oil policy flaws' (Jan 12), discussing total helplessness of the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet before the all-powerful oil marketing companies (OMCs) and petroleum dealers reminded me of the 20th century's most popular science fiction 'The Frankenstein's Monster'.

As the story goes in the eighteenth century, a brilliant student of chemistry and biological sciences, Victor Frankenstein, created an artificial life. He ended up making a monster known as 'Frankenstein's monster' ,who even refused to obey his master.

The story fits in the case of oil marketing companies and the petroleum dealers who, during the entire period of almost nine years of the previous regime, have minted billions at the cost of the poor masses with connivance of men in power.

With stupendous gains and a strong political clout of Shaukat Aziz's team, they had acquired so much strength that even the much feared National Accountability Bureau had to succumb and shelve the inquiry initiated by it on incessant public demand.

Now the same companies, that were allowed to flourish on public blood, have kept the present government hostage by a creating artificial shortage of oil products in Punjab and Frontier provinces as has rightly been claimed in the editorial.

It is under this undue pressure that the government has decided to increase profit margins of OMCs and the dealers.

I agree with your editorial that under the present circumstance when the global oil prices have tumbled, it is not right on the part of the government to pocket billions in the shape of sales tax and oil levies instead of passing the benefit on to the people who are reeling under spiraling inflation.

I also agree with your editorial that the present regime, which is voted by the masses into office, has to keep their interest supreme and restrict its own profit-taking and that of the OMCs and dealers to a reasonable level if it is to retain its credibility with the people.

DR KAZI KHADIM HUSSAIN

Hyderabad