ISLAMABAD - The Cabinet Division (CD) has sought approval from the Establishment Division (ED) to remove Mir Kamal Marri, Member Finance Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), over his misconduct.
Well-informed sources aware of the development told TheNation that Cabinet Division has dispatched a letter to Establishment Division and sought its approval to remove the Ogra member from responsible slot because Mir Kamal Marri remained absent from his office for six and half months in violation of rules and regulations. They said the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has conducted inquiry against the said member finance. The member is also named in multi-billion rupees much-debated ‘Ogra scam’.
Pursuant to the inquiry by FPSC, the charge of misconduct stood established against the officer; therefore, Cabinet Division through their summary solicited orders for removal of Mir Kamal Marri, Member Finance OGRA, from his office. Establishment Division endorsed this proposal as well. Cabinet Division moved a summary on July 19, 2013 for approval of the Prime Minister to the proposal that an inquiry through FPSC may be initiated in terms of Section 3(11) of OGRA Ordinance against Mir Kamal Marri on account of his unauthorized absence from duty from August 18, 2012 to February 28, 2013. The proposal of Cabinet Division was endorsed by Establishment Division as Government Servant Rules, 1973 were not applicable upon him. Accordingly, an inquiry against the officer was conducted by FPSC,” said official letter, a copy of which is also available with The Nation.
Cabinet Division has also talked about the continuing trial in NAB. The Cabinet Division said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) initiated investigations against Tauqir Sadiq, former chairman OGRA, and others on the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan and filed reference against Tauqir Sadiq, Mir Kamal Marri and others, which is under trial for recording of evidence in NAB court, Islamabad. In view of the investigation, NAB requested that on September 4, 2012 that Ex-Pakistan leave of Mir Kamal Marri may not be extended. Furthermore, NAB recommended that Mir Kamal Marri may not be posted as Member Finance, OGRA as he is facing trial in the OGRA scam and posting will adversely affect the proceedings.
“Following the findings of inquiry report of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) that declared the member has committed misconduct, the CD has sent a summary to ED to get rid of Mir Kamal Marri,” said a top seated guru at petroleum ministry on the condition not to be named.
Sources further told that Member Finance Mir Kamal Marri, during his absence period from August 2012 to February 2013, remained in Switzerland with his mother. They said on his arrival, Mir Kamal Marri submitted medical reports with the FPSC that disclosed that member Ogra suffered a heart attack during his stay at abroad. It is also important to mention that a final approval regarding the removal of Mir Kamal Marri from his lucrative slot at regulatory authority (Ogra) would be sought the Prime Minister (PM). And, after getting the premier’s nod, an order of removal of Marri from Ogra would be issued.