ISLAMABAD
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday accepted the bail request of former OGRA head Tauqir Sadiq and ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to release him.
A divisional bench of the IHC, comprising of Justice Noorul Haq N Queshi and Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan, heard the bail plea filed by Sadiq.
His counsel Sardar Asmatullah apprised the court that Sadiq has been facing acute discrimination from NAB.
He said, “Unfortunately my client has become victim of NAB’s biased approach in this case, as out of the three other accused two got bail and another had not been arrested yet.”
He added that according to NAB’s reference other nine accused have not been arrested yet. The counsel said his client was being victimised in the case.
NAB prosecutor Saeedur Rehman apprised the court that Sadiq was the main accused among others being head of OGRA; therefore, he was kept in custody. He said Sadiq was the principal accused in the Rs 82 billion corruption case, and fled to Abu Dhabi after the Supreme Court on November 25, 2011, declared his appointment as chairman OGRA illegal and ordered his arrest for corruption.
He allegedly has close links with a senior leader of the PPP who reportedly played a major role in his escape from Pakistan despite cancellation of his passport and inclusion of his name in the Exit Control List (ECL).
Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan said the court has no concern that how Sadiq was arrested, however, asked the NAB prosecutor that why only Sadiq was arrested, what is real case and how the rest of accused got bail or not arrested.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court accepted the bail petition against two surety bonds worth Rs one million each.