Pakistani utilities boss flees to Dubai – reports

The former chairman of Pakistan’s oil and gas regulatory authority (OGRA), wanted in connection with an alleged multimillion dollar corruption case, has reportedly fled to Dubai. 

Tauqir Sadiq, along with several other senior executives at OGRA, has been accused of misusing authority, embezzlement and causing loss to the national exchequer. An arrest warrant was issued in October but police have so far failed to locate the businessman.

Pakistani daily The News claimed Sadiq fled to Dubai in early October in a bid to avoid arrest.

Sadiq was appointed chairman of OGRA by former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. Last year the Supreme Court declared his appointment illegal and ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate claims of corruption.

The NAB investigation said Sadiq had converted the operating income of two public utilities, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines and Sui Southern Gas Company, into non-operating income resulting in a US$393m burden to consumers.

OGRA also issued licenses for the opening of 306 new CNG stations in 2009-10 and 170 in 2010-11, in spite of a ban imposed by the government due to severe gas shortages, said NAB.