Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. PHOTO: FILE
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that it has decided to question two former premiers Yousaf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervaiz Asharaf and former adviser on petroleum Dr Asim Hussain over the appointment of Ogra’s ex-chairman Tauqir Sadiq.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, was hearing the case about implementation of its judgment regarding controversial appointment of Tauqir Sadiq as head of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra).
The NAB will summon Gilani, Ashraf and Hussain to appear before the NAB team investigating the Ogra case on May27, 28 and May 30, respectively.
The three have been held responsible for the losses their appointee, Tauqir Sadiq, caused to the national exchequer.
Sadiq was the prime accused in the Rs82 billion scam of issuing new CNG licences, increasing gas tariff and allowing relocation of the functional stations.
The apex court had declared the appointment of Tauqir Sadiq as Ogra chairman illegal and void ab initio in November 2011. Sadiq managed to evade arrest in Pakistan and fled to United Arab Emirates.
Prosecutor General NAB K K Agha told the bench that a UAE court was likely to give its decision regarding the extradition of Tauqir Sadiq on June 3 as the hearing of the case there had been completed.
Sources in the bureau said that NAB has also summoned Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Jameel Ahmad Khan and Community Welfare Attaché Farooq Langah on June 3, on the charges of facilitating Sadiq in his prolonged stay in the UAE.
According to NAB’s investigations, the Pakistan Embassy in the UAE creates hindrances when it comes to the deportation and extradition process, reportedly in order to ensure that Sadiq stays in the UAE.
Sadiq, a brother-in-law of PPP secretary general Jehangir Badar, was said to be in cahoots with the top brass of the PPP-led government to the extent that he once entered the Governor House in Lahore to evade arrest and as the arresting team waited outside he left in the official vehicle of the Punjab governor.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly reprimanded NAB for failing to arrest Sadiq, whereas NAB officials complain that they are obstructed whenever they get close enough to nail him.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
Regarding the role of ex-PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, then minister for water and power and chairman of the selection committee, the NAB report says “he was responsible for recommending the name of a person apparently less qualified and having inadequate experience of senior level policy formulation and of unverified credentials twice to the appointing authority (prime minister) despite the fact that name of Sadiq was already rejected by the appointing authority with the direction to propose fresh panel having required qualifications and relevant experience for the post of chairman Ogra.”
Yousaf Raza Gilani
NAB’s investigation report states that Gilani was the competent authority for the appointment of Ogra chairman. Gilani had initially rejected Sadiq along with two other persons proposed by the selection committee headed by Pervaiz Ashraf. However, he appointed Sadiq on the recommendation of the selection committee in the subsequent process.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2013.
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What a beautiful display of democracy.