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CCP to proceed against PTCL for abusing its dominant position

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November 19, 2018 (MLN): The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has passed an order assuming its jurisdiction in the matter of Show Cause Notice issued to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) for prima facie abusing its dominant position in violation of Section 3 of the Competition Act, 2010.

According to the press release, the Show Cause Notice was issued to PTCL in 2012 after the conclusion of the enquiry on the complaint filed by Micronet Broadband Limited, LinkDotNet Telecom Limited, and Nexlinx Limited (Complainants).

It was brought to the notice of CCP that PTCL had abused its dominant position in the market for the provision of DSL services through the practices of predatory pricing and refusal to deal.

CCP’s enquiry determined that PTCL being a dominant player in the upstream market for access to copper infrastructure was restricting competition through the practice of margin squeeze, which forced five out of 11 of PTCL’s competitors out of market and discouraged the entry of new players.

This anti-competitive practice prima facie constitutes the abuse of dominant position and violation of Section 3 of the Competition Act.

Meanwhile, after the initiation of enquiry the Complainant withdrew the complaint, however, the CCP continued with the conclusion of the enquiry as per law.

As per the report, upon issuance of Show Cause Notice, PTCL filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging CCP’s jurisdiction in the matter and the proceedings before the Commission were suspended on 28 June 2012.

While, PTCL was successful in delaying the proceedings before the CCP through the stay order, however, with the persistent follow up by the CCP, Islamabad High Court vide its Order dated 22 November 2017 allowed the CCP to proceed in the matter, but not to pass any final order, says the report.

Later on the Honorable Islamabad High Court vide its Order 22 January 2018 mandated the CCP to decide the issue of maintainability in terms of the jurisdictional objections raised by PTCL. In fact the Honorable Islamabad High Court recognized the jurisdiction of CCP subject to determination of maintainability by CCP through an Order.

As per the bulletin, after hearing the parties, the CCP’s bench passed the order addressing the questions of its jurisdiction in the matter and the maintainability of the show cause notice.

CCP held that although Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (Re-organisation) Act, 1996 has a general provision of regulation of competition, which was inserted in 2006, however, no specific provision is available which provides for prohibition of any anti-competitive behaviour or a remedy against an anti-competitive situation.

On the other hand the legislature in all its wisdom has deliberately entrusted the CCP with the exclusive mandate of regulating anti-competitive conduct and not only provided for prohibitions of anti-competitive conducts under Chapter II of the Act but also provided for remedies against such conduct.

CCP will now proceed in the matter of show cause notice issued to PTCL for prima facie abuse of dominant position. This is the first time the Honorable High Court allowed CCP to decide the maintainability of the proceedings pending before CCP.

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Posted on: 2018-11-19T17:58:00+05:00

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