The man wanted in Rs83 billon scam, former Ogra Chairman Tauqir Sadiq has claimed that he was being forced by certain quarters to testify against top leadership of the ruling PPP.
Tauqir’s appointment as Ogra chief was declared illegal by Supreme Court in November last. The apex court in October had ordered for his immediate arrest after the NAB submitted a report against him in August.The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had said that Tauqir in collaboration with Ogra officials had caused a loss of Rs83 billion to the national exchequer.Since August, he is at large and the law enforcement agencies – police, FIA and others – have ‘failed’ to arrest him despite court’s repeated strict directions.
In an interview conducted by this scribe through social websites Facebook and Skype, Tauqir – as the interviewee identified himself – mostly focused on leveling allegations in the over one and a half hours long session.Though he did not disclose his location, the Skype showed him being online from Sri Lanka.Tauqir Sadiq, who is also brother-in-law of PPP leader Jahangir Badar, claimed that he was innocent and the report and reference filed by the NAB were mere fabrications.
He alleged that the NAB was working under the ‘pressure’ of four judges of the Supreme Court and said that he had moved a reference before the Supreme Judicial Council. He said he had also forwarded an application to UN against justices Iftikhar Chaudhary, Mian Shakirullah Jan, Jawad S Khawaja, Arif Khilji and also against NAB Chairman Fasih Bookhari pleading that these men were violating human rights.When pointed out that NAB chairman was appointed by President Zardari and asked if he meant that the president was behind the whole episode, Tauqir said nothing.When asked if he doubted the honesty of NAB chairman, Tauqir replied, “Don’t try to provoke me; I don’t want to be get involved into other issues other than my own case.
The thing I can say for sure is that NAB is not working independently in my case.”Asked to name the judges before whom he was willing to appear and face the charges, Tauqir replied, “All others are honest judges.”Asked why the judiciary or the specific judges he named were targeting him alone and not anyone else, he alleged, “Some powerful quarters, including those judges, wanted me to provide statements and possible evidence against President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minster Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and some other big guns.”When asked about the rationale for this alleged action, he said the judges wanted to take revenge of the delay in restoring them.
He accused the judiciary of targeting the current federal government and its supporters.He claimed that all this campaign against him in the courts and in the media was to hide the truth. When asked what that truth was, Tauqir did not say anything specific except repeating allegations against the judges.“I tried my best to be the part of the NAB probe, but the bureau denied it saying the apex court had not authorised them to record my statement,” the interviewee claimed.“I know I can be arrested through Interpol.
I am ready to surrender after giving my viewpoint,” he said and claimed the allegations against him involved Rs52 million, but he was ready to be hanged if embezzlement of even Rs52 was proved.He claimed he was out of country since July1, 2011 and left the country after crossing border from a city, which he didn’t name. But he claimed, “Intelligence agencies and NAB know where I am now.” But when pointed out that government had cancelled his both passports, Tauqir said, “Now Pakistani authorities cannot take any action against me because now I am not a Pakistani anymore.”