Supreme Court of Pakistan. — Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: During Thursday’s hearing of the case pertaining to the arrest orders issued against ex-chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Tauqir Sadiq, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s Director Legal Muhammad Azam Khan told the Supreme Court that he had no information on Sadiq’s arrest, DawnNews reported.

During the hearing, FIA’s director legal told the bench that there was no information regarding the arrest of Ogra’s former chairman.

He added that Sadiq had been traced in the UAE and that he was being monitored there.

In his remarks, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja expressed dissatisfaction over a report which was sought by the bench to affix responsibility against FIA and Punjab police officials who had failed to nab the accused.

Justice Khawaja added that mere speculation was taking place over Sadiq’s arrest since the past four weeks.

He moreover inquired as to how Sadiq had managed to reach Kathmandu.

Responding to which, FIA’s director legal said Sadiq’s departure from the country was being investigated.

Earlier on Wednesday, a senior official of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had told Dawn that Sadiq had been arrested in Abu Dhabi with the help of Interpol.

The NAB insider had said a team was leaving for Abu Dhabi on Thursday to obtain Sadiq’s custody.

Sadiq is accused of misusing authority, embezzling funds and causing Rs82 billion losses to the national exchequer by converting operating income (regular income) into non-operating income in violation of an agreement signed with the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, relocating several CNG stations, making illegal appointments, etc.

Sadiq is also said to be a close relative of Pakistan People’s Party’s Secretary General Jehangir Badar.