The biggest ever scam of the history of Pakistan that took place in Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has finalised by the investigation team and the final reference of amounting Rs76 billion has been forwarded for the perusal of incumbent Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), sources told The Nation on Sunday. “
The amount of the OGRA scam has increased up to Rs120 billion as the federal watchdog has already filed an interim reference of Rs44 in the Accountability Court (AC)-1 Islamabad during last November,” sources added. Finally, the NAB found eleven accused allegedly involved in the OGRA scam, including former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, former advisor to president Dr Asim Hussain, Energy Tycoon Iqbal .Z Ahmed, Mirza Mehmood Advocate, former chairman OGRA Tauqir Sadiq, principal accused, and other five officials from gas utility companies like SNGPL and SSGCL, the sources added.
The Accountability Court-1 Islamabad would likely take up the OGRA case today as it directed the NAB authorities to finalise the investigation and interrogation of the scam up to November 4th the sources added. Similarly, NAB would present its progress report regarding OGRA scam on November 7. They said the principal accused of OGRA scam was deported and extradited from Dubai on July 9 this year and he remained 67 days in the custody of NAB for further interrogation and investigation of the scam.
During his chairmanship in the OGRA Tauqir Sadiq appointed 21 individuals in the Authority while observing nepotism, favouritism in violation of the Service Regulations 2005 of OGRA. These appointments of officers and officials were made on regular, contract and deputation basis during the period of July 2009 to May 2011 Registrar OGRA Muhammad Yasin, complainant against Tauqir Sadiq, levelled allegation of misuse of authority, corruption and corrupt practices while challenging his appointment through constitutional petition No 42/2011. The Supreme Court on November 25 2011 directed the NAB to probe the matter.
The NAB started its interim inquiry on November 30, 2011 against the allegations levelled by the complainant. He is accused of misuse of authority as chairman OGRA, illegal relocation of sites despite the government ban on new CNG stations, illegal extension of provisional licenses. Similarly, the accused was alleged for changing the operating income to non-operating income of SSGCL and SNGPL, sources added. -Nation
