Soon after returning from his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Nawaz suspended four officials over the prevailing petrol crisis, including Petroleum Secretary Abid Saeed, his deputy Naeem Malik, Oil Director General CM Azam and Pakistan State Oil chief Amjad Janjua.

However, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in spite of being the minister of petroleum and being directly responsible for all the affairs pertaining to his ministry, is absolved and left untouched.

It is ironic to see that a secretary and other officials are suspended for this devastating petrol crisis, but the minister, who heads them, is spared. The minister must either be guilty of complicity or complacency. In either case, he is responsible for this terrible crisis.