The government is likely to sack Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Chairman Tauqeer Sadiq over charges of misconduct and corruption in issuance of compressed natural gas (CNG) station licences, according to sources in the petroleum ministry.
The Supreme Court recently reserved its judgment on a petition challenging appointment of Sadiq as Ogra chairman. Earlier, the deputy attorney general told the apex court that the charge-sheet prepared against Sadiq carried 10 allegations including misconduct and a fake LLM degree. He said an inquiry committee had noted that the appointment of Sadiq as Ogra chairman was questionable.
The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) is also conducting an inquiry into alleged involvement of Ogra chairman in issuance of CNG station licences and misconduct despite a ban on new filling stations.
A sub-committee of the National Assembly standing committee on petroleum and natural resources is also probing allegations of corruption against the Ogra chairman. When contacted, acting chairman of Ogra, Sabir Hussain said he could not comment as the matter was in court.
Ogra issued 306 licences for new CNG stations during fiscal year 2009-10 and 170 licences in 2010-11, violating a ban imposed by the government in 2008 because of severe gas shortages across the country. According to a decision of the prime minister, no new no-objection certificate (NOC) will be sought for providing new CNG connections, but Ogra issued licences where NOC was involved.
After the issue came to light, the government sent Sadiq on forced leave for three months up to August 28. Later, the leave was extended by another three months.
Sadiq has challenged this forced leave in the SC as well, and when contacted by The Express Tribune he said that the case was in court, and it was best to let the courts decide.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2011.
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