The Supreme Court on Monday observed that prima facie, its directive on illegal appointment and deportation of former Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) chairman Tauqir Sadiq had not been implemented and an attempt to hinder present proceedings had been made.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain took up submission of the progress report by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over deportation of Tauqir Sadiq.
Expressing dismay over the report submitted by NAB, the bench issued a notice to the NAB chairman asking him to explain why the court’s orders had not been implemented, demanding reasons for the unusual and culpable conduct, and giving the NAB chief 10 days to respond.
The bench further observed that no explanation was given by authorities as to why a report had not been submitted in response to its order of February 26.
NAB Additional Prosecutor General Rana Zahid Mahmood apprised the bench that the relevant file was taken away by the prosecutor general and the contents of the records were not in his knowledge as he was handed the file just before appearing in court.
The bench in its order said NAB operated under the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 and under Section 6, the NAB chairman and his subordinates had been vested with vast responsibility.
During the hearing, NAB Investigation Officer Waqas Ahmed also submitted a report, saying that Sadiq could not be brought to Pakistan because a court in Dubai had to take up the issue on March 9.
He apprised the bench that even today, irregular remittances were made from Pakistan in the name of Sadiq’s wife Saiqa Tauqir, through the illegal ‘Hawala’ system.
He said he had sent a report to NAB Headquarters over the issue. The bench directed the NAB chief to submit an explanation in this regard along with his response.
Syed Amir Hussain Malik, a witness in the case said he had also moved an application, and claimed he had been intimidated and pressurised by one Shahzad Bhatti, an alleged front man of Tauqir Sadiq, to withdraw the case.
A similar application was filed by Malik Muhammad Nawaz upon which the bench directed NAB to submit a response demanding explanations.
Further hearing has been adjourned till March 7.