Tauqir Sadiq case: Supreme Court expresses astonishment over absence of record

The Supreme Court expressed astonishment over absence of record about Taquir Sadiq, saying that how could the case be heard properly if the law enforcement agencies were acting in complicity with the accused.

A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice Khawaja, resumed hearing the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) scam case involving its former chairman Tauqeer Sadiq.

Sadiq and three other officials of OGRA including Mansoor Ali Muzaffar, Mir Kamal Frid Bijarani Muree and Jawad Jamil are accused of misusing authority, embezzling funds and causing Rs82 billion losses to the national exchequer by converting operating income into non-operating income in violation of an agreement signed with the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, relocating several CNG stations, making illegal appointments, etc. Sadiq is also said to be a close relative of PPP’s Secretary General Jehangir Badar.

During the hearing, acting IG Punjab told the bench that Sadiq had not been arrested so far, adding that the former Ogra chief had two passports.

The acting IG moreover said that Sadiq had flown from Dubai to Dhaka. Giving details, he added that Sadiq had arrived in Dubai on Nov 28 and had traveled using a private airline. However, no records were available on Sadiq’s departure from the country, the official said.

Responding to which, Justice Jawwad Khawaja expressed astonishment and said that a man has embezzled Rs 82 billion and has disappeared while the police is unable to arrest him. He reprimanded police and said that it is their duty to apprehend him.

Justice Khawaja moreover said that information could have been collected on Sadiq if the authorities had contacted the embassy in time. He remarked that officials travelled to Khatmandu to trace Sadiq, adding that the expenses for that purpose were paid by the government.

Earlier on Monday, the court had asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as to what action it had taken against those who were behind Sadiq’s escape from the country.

NAB and police officials had expressed their helplessness in arresting the former OGRA chief by the Dec 31 deadline given by the court and had informed the bench hearing the case that he had escaped to Nepal. The FIA had also claimed that Sadiq could not escape abroad because his name was on the exit control list (ECL).

On Nov 25, 2011, the court had declared the appointment of Sadiq as OGRA chairman illegal and had ordered the NAB to investigate corruption cases against him and submit its findings within 45 days. The court had observed that five people were involved in the illegal appointment of Sadiq, including Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.

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Posted by Web Desk on Jan 2 2013. Filed under National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.