ISLAMABAD - Yet another ugly mockery of rule of law and merit; PPP-led government is still reluctant to terminate services of Ogra officials earlier found guilty in Rs80 billion hefty corruption case investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).Well-placed sources aware of the matter informed TheNatrion that making mockery of the law of land and merit, the government is confused to terminate the services of those influential Ogra officials who found guilty in NAB investigation resultantly men with disputed identities are occupying lucrative slots in the regulatory authority. They told that succumbing to the pressure from government, NAB has not arrested rest of the officials for investigation except Member Gas Mansoor Muzaffar despite fixing responsibility. Even the government gurus are ostensibly not willing to take any further severe action against existing Member Gas Mansoor Muzaffar Ali and their cronies operating in Ogra. They told that so far the government did not removed any officials from their respective responsible slots even it had not stopped them to see the matters of the regulatory authority and consumers affairs as no arrest warrants reported till this effect. They were of the opinion that irony is that when a procedure of sending official on force leave found guilty in a corruption case was adopted in the case of ex-chairman Ogra Tauqeer Saddiq then why rest of the officials so far were not sent on forced leave or terminated. Progress report of Special Operation Division of the NAB dated 30th May, 2012, pertaining corruption of Rs 80 billion submitted to the honourable Supreme Court (SC), made available with TheNation confirmed the high profile corruption cases took place only because of misuse of authority by high ups of regulatory authority. Further, during the interrogation the accused has made serious revelations particularly concerning pricing mechanism of Dewan Petroleum (Pvt) Ltd. Raising of Unaccounted for Gas (UfG) benchmark, inunctions passed in Gas theft cases and connivance of other Ogra Executives/ private persons. Again, efforts are underway to arrest Tauqir Sadiq, Ex-Chairman Ogra as he has absconded since 16-05-12. The warrant of arrest of Tauqir Sadiq has also been forwarded to Inspector General of Police Islamabad and Punjab for execution and arrest of the accused.  “It was also learnt from the NAB report that the process for freezing of known properties of Tauqir Sadiq and other involved accused persons and benamidars is under way to affect the recovery. So far, 40 bank accounts of the accused persons have been placed under caution. Simultaneously reference under NAO 1990 is also under preparation. However, investigation with regard to allegation of appointment of Chairman Tauqir Saddiq, non-compliance of the directions given regarding the restoration of the powers of Member (gas) assigned to Member (Finance), illegal re-location of sites despite government ban on new CNG stations. 47 cases established and process of recording of statements of the CNG station owners is under way, while award of illegal injunctions in gas theft cases and 11 CNG station licences granted by Ex-Chairman Ogra, Tauqir Sadiq have been found bogus, issued on fake documents without verification by Ogra. However, the financial impact of decisions taken by farmer Chairman Tauqir Sadiq has been established which caused substantial loss to the general public and exchequer. Similarly, farmer Chairman changed operating income to non-operating income of SSGCL and Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGPL). Further, UfG benchmark increased from 5 per cent to 7 per cent for SNGPL and SSGCL, which caused loss of billion of rupees in the gas sector. Ogra reduced the benchmark to 4.5 per cent in May 2012 yet SNGPL through MD SNGPL has procured stay orders from the honourable Lahore High Court in writ petition filed by the learned counsel Mirza Mehmood Ahmad on behalf of Managing Director (MD) SNGPL. Again, Dewan Petroleum Ltd case of increase in wellhead price of Salsabil while illegal appointments, mal-practice and corruption by Tauqir Sadiq in appointment of about 50 officers (Contractual and regular basis). “Illegal payments of about Rs13,274,000/- to the Attorneys outside approved panel and for personal cases,” NAB report said, adding, that illegal and unauthorised creation of posts in Chairman office and unlawful expenditures on new secretariat.Moreover, NAB investigation is at advance stage as process of collection of record and recording statement of accused persons and witnesses for ensuring trial worthy case is being finalised. Draft reference is under preparation for filing in the accountability court. It is wroth mentioning that NAB had submitted an inquiry report in Supreme Court on 12-1-2012 about a case in which it was established that Rs 80 billion corruption took place in connivance with the top guns of Ogra only to benefit influential ‘gas mafia’.

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