Former Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) chairman Tauqir Sadiq, who is accused of involvement in the Rs 80 billion scam, is expected to be brought back to Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within 48 hours, sources said on Sunday.
According to sources in Pakistan Embassy, UAE, all the relevant documents have been handed over to UAE authorities. Sources further said that Pakistani officials had held a meeting with the UAE authorities on Saturday night, and handed over the documents to them.
The former OGRA chief is accused of misappropriating funds of Rs 80 billion and the Supreme Court of Pakistan is hearing a case in this regard. The court had issued orders for Sadiq’s arrest.
Sources said that on ambassador’s instructions, the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi remained open during the weekly holidays – Friday and Saturday – because of Tauqir Sadiq’s case.
The extradition file sent by NAB authorities reached the cargo office at Abu Dhabi airport Saturday evening. The embassy staff, without waiting for the courier company to deliver it the next day, immediately rushed to the airport to collect the file directly from the cargo office to avoid delay.
The NAB team was immediately contacted to reach the embassy. The embassy officer and NAB team signed and attested the extradition file by 8pm. The file was then dispatched to the UAE Foreign Affairs Ministry at 10pm. But as the UAE Foreign Ministry was closed, the file was delivered early Sunday morning. The extradition process, legally and diplomatically, commenced on Sunday after the arrival of the file dispatched by NAB. Sources added that an expeditious action was expected from the UAE Foreign Ministry in view of intense prior diplomatic communication and their meetings with the Pakistani ambassador.
