The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed National Highways & Motorway Police IG Zafar Abbas Lak and Punjab police to submit a report in the case pertaining to the orders for the arrest of former chairman Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Tauqir Sadiq.
A two-judge bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, heard the case relating to orders for Sadiq’s arrest, a private television channel reported.
During the hearing, counsel for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Fauzi Zafar, told the bench that raids were being carried out for the arrest of Sadiq, a relative of Pakistan People’s Party’s secretary general Jehangir Badr.
Responding to which, Justice Khawaja said the former Ogra chairman had yet not been arrested and inquired as to where he presently was.
Zafar said Sadiq was reportedly in Lahore as per the information received in October 2012 regarding his location.
Waqas Ahmed Khan, the Investigation Officer assigned the task of arresting Sadiq, said no more information was available on Sadiq’s current location.
On which, Justice Khawaja inquired as to whether or not Sadiq was well-placed and whether or not he could be arrested.
Justice Khawaja moreover directed the investigation officer to submit in writing the difficulties being faced in order to carry out the arrest.
The officer told the bench that those involved in the investigation were facing threats, adding that, bogus cases were being registered against them.
Khan added that Chairman NAB Fasih Bokhari was also facing threats on the issue.
On which, Justice Khawaja said a threat could be punished with 10 years in prison, adding that, authorities should act against those behind the intimidation.
Khan moreover told the bench that Sadiq had travelled on the Motorway but that motorway police had not cooperated for the former Ogra chairman’s arrest.
Subsequently, the bench directed IG Motorway and Punjab police to submit a report on the matter and adjourned the case’s hearing to Dec 19.