Court finds Ogra scam NAB reference incomplete, insufficient

ISLAMABAD - An accountability court (AC) returned back the original reference of multibillion rupees Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) scam filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as the court found it incomplete and insufficient, well-placed sources told The Nation on Monday.
According to details, the NAB after having direction from Supreme Court (SC) regarding completion of OGRA scam investigation filed only seven pages in AC-1 Islamabad for illegal appointment of former chairman OGRA Tauqir Sadiq and only nine pages reference was filed in the corruption and corrupt practices of former chairman OGRA and others, the sources added.
Similarly, a writ petition suit has been filed by Aqeel Karim Dhedhi against NAB, chairman NAB, and NAB investigation team. The plaintiff has also challenged Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), one publisher, one journalist and one media corporation in Sindh High Court which would take up the case today (Tuesday), it is learnt.
When contacted Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, he confirmed about his petition in the Sindh High Court.
“NAB included my name in the list of accused in OGRA scam which is contrary to law as the SECP has given me clean chit regarding the trading of SSGCL and SNGPL shares.” He further said that the SECP has submitted an affidavit in SHC regarding its report. He also said that the investigation report submitted in the NAB headquarter has never mentioned his name that was forwarded in November last for final approval of the OGAR reference by the NAB Rawalpindi.
Earlier, the NAB in its executive board meeting on January 22 approved the final reference of OGAR scam and the above said petitioner was listed among the accused of the multibillion rupees scam, the sources said.
Additional Deputy Prosecutor General (ADPG) NAB Akbar Tarar has left for Karachi to appear before the SHC to represent NAB, sources disclosed.
According to the sources, the NAB was divided over on the list of accused involved in this OGRA scam as the prosecution and the investigation did not agree with pick and choose of the NAB higher authorities, the sources said.
The total amount of the OGRA scam has increased up to Rs 120 billion as NAB has already filed an interim reference of Rs 44 billion in the Accountability Court (AC)-1 Islamabad. The NAB launched an investigation into OGRA scam on the directives of the Supreme Court in November 2011 but it missed several deadlines fixed by the apex court and the accountability court of Islamabad for filing the reference, the sources said.
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.

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