Ogra scam witnesses seek security after threats

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2014-02-28T01:48:53+05:00 Amir Jalil Bobra

ISLAMABAD - Instead of providing full security to the multi-billion rupees OGRA scam witnesses the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has left them on the mercy of powerful corrupt culprits involved in denting the national kitty.
According to sources, several star witnesses of the OGRA scam have approached the NAB to seek protection from the powerful accused that still have key posts in various organizations.
The NAB has already filed the final reference in the Ogra scam but only one accused Tauqir Sadiq is currently behind the bars and the other accused including Managing Director of SSGCL Zohair Siddique, ex-MD SNGPL Abdur Rashid Lone, Member (Finance) OGRA Mir Kamal Marri, Masoor Muzzaffar Member Gas OGRA, ex-Staff Officer to Chairman Ogra Jawad Jamil, ex-MD SSGCL Azeem Iqbal Siddique, ex-GM (Finance) SSGC Syed Arsalan Iqbal, members SSGC & SNGPL BoD Mirza Mahmood and DMD SSGC Yousaf J Ansari are still having key positions in the organizations, the sources added.
Former chairman OGRA Tauqir Sadiq is accused of minting and managing Rs70 billion corruption in his official capacity. Tauqir Sadiq is currently detained in Adyala Jail after his arrest from UAE.
The latest written complaint has been filed by Dr Anwar Ali Sahto who is the prime witness in the OGRA scam. The complaint, a copy of which is available with The Nation, informs the chairman NAB about the threatening messages being received by Sahto, an ex-employee of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL).
The complainant said that powerful accused are harassing him through a series of mobile messages and threatening to register fake criminal cases against him if he does not retract his testimony against them.
The prime witness requested the chairman NAB to provide him protection under the Bureau’s rules.
Talking to The Nation, Sahto accused the top officials of SSGCL of sponsoring the harassment campaign against him.
The sources in the NAB said they have received complaints of harassment from other witnesses as well. Some OGRA employees who are among the NAB prime witnesses have also lodged such complaints with the NAB.
When contacted a NAB official said that the federal watchdog will take all possible measures to ensure the safety, security and protection of the prime witnesses of OGRA scam in accordance with the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999.

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