Supreme Court annoyed over continued failure to catch Tauqir Sadiq; gives ten days to investigators. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Former chief of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Tauqeer Sadiq wanted in an Rs82 billion scam succeeded in evading arrest by escaping to Dhaka from his hideout in Kathmandu.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Punjab police were searching for Sadiq in Pakistan, while he was resting in the Nepalese capital.
With friends in high places, Sadiq has managed to avoid arrest. At times with the posse hot on his heels, someone tips him off and Sadiq disappears.
This time again, the three-member police team sent to arrest the VIP absconder returned empty-handed.
“My Lord, he (Sadiq) fled to Dhaka just a day before our team arrived in Kathmandu,” acting Inspector General of Punjab Police told the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday.
The two-member bench of SC headed by Justice Jawad S Khawaja, annoyed over police’s chronic failure, wanted to know how Sadiq managed to flee the country in the first place and who assisted him in the escape. But the police chief had no clue.
The court gave the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Punjab Police and National Accountability Court (NAB) ten days to ascertain the information on all those involved in helping Sadiq’s escape and submit a report in the court.
“Cancel his passports immediately,” the judge directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after the police chief informed the court that Sadiq possessed two passports. The court asked the FIA as to how Sadiq managed to obtain two passports.
“We will have to ask the passports and immigration department,” the FIA representative told the court. The court asked them for a report to be submitted on Thursday.
Interpol
The police chief said the cops would now need red warrants to arrest Sadiq with the help of Interpol.
The court directed the FIA to obtain the warrants at the earliest. The agency maintained that it was not aware of Sadiq’s travel to Kathmandu. “We have no record of his travel,” said the FIA official.
Turning to NAB, the SC judges asked the bureau to submit a report on the status of implementation of its previous orders about tracing NAB officers who failed to arrest the former Ogra chief.
The Punjab police in earlier hearings alleged before the court that Motorways Police was not cooperating with the investigators as they could arrest Sadiq when he travelled by the highway a few months back.
The IGP Motorways Zafar Lak told the court, in a written reply, that Sadiq travelled in Senator Jehangir Badar’s vehicle and thus could not be arrested.
Further Delaying Tactics
Now that the police claimed they have ascertained Sadiq’s whereabouts, his arrest is still not imminent. The FIA would write to Interpol for his red warrants only after the NAB and police determine his exact location besides completing legal formalities.
“His passports would be immediately rendered invalid after they are cancelled,” said an FIA official. However, it was up to the department when they comply with the court orders.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2013.
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Person with RS. 82-billion in pocket, shuffer driven by Senator, probably flying on a private plane does not need Pakistani passport, he would be holding many other passports n soon he will be a forgotten individual. Another kills a DSP son n fly Australia n probably relaxing. Question here is What Pakistan Police, FIA n related agencies are doing? No one should dare to blame Courts or Judges, they cant be held responsible to follow, catch, present evidences, try in courts, given sentences n than implement them. Whole system has been high jacked by ruling class.