The accountability court in Rawalpindi on Friday sanctioned a request by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seeking an additional 14-day remand of Tauqir Sadiq, the former chief of the Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (OGRA), accused of involvement in a multi-billion rupee scam.
The NAB’s request was granted by Judge M Bashir during the hearing in the OGRA corruption case.
Sadiq was also brought to court during the proceedings. Approving the remand, the court directed the authorities to produce the former OGRA chairman before it on August 16, the date for the next hearing.
Sadiq is accused of misusing authority, embezzling funds and causing a loss of Rs 82 billion (approximately $850 million) to the national exchequer by converting operating income into non-operating income in violation of an agreement signed with the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, relocating several CNG stations and making illegal appointments.
He fled abroad soon after the Supreme Court declared his appointment as OGRA chief illegal on November 25, 2012, and ordered NAB to arrest him.
Sadiq managed to leave the country although his name was on the exit control list. He was handed over by UAE authorities to a team of NAB officials on July 8.
Two former prime ministers — Yousaf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf — have been accused of involvement in the illegal appointment of Sadiq.