The government has decided to "oust" Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Tauqir Sadiq, for reportedly submitting a fake LLM degree and increasing gas price of Salsabil gas field despite the advice of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, well informed sources told Business Recorder. "Chairman OGRA will tender his resignation on the pattern of Chairman PEMRA for which negotiations are underway," the sources added.
Chairman OGRA is the brother-in-law of Pakistan People's Party Secretary General, Jehangir Badr. Higher Education Commission (HEC) recently informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the institution Tauqir Sadiq claimed to have acquired his LLM degree does not exist.
"The institute (American Institute of London) does not exist in America and Britain," the HEC replied to the court's query about the institute's status, exposing Tauqir Sadiq's degree as bogus. Meanwhile, The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has filed a contempt petition in Supreme Court against OGRA for increasing gas price of Salsabil gas field despite advice of the Ministry, as the case has not yet been decided by the apex court.
According to details, on February 17, 2011, Supreme Court had directed in the presence of Attorney General of Pakistan that with reference to gas pricing the present arrangement should continue till the next hearing. However, OGRA issued a notification increasing the price from 2.8 dollars per mmbtu to 3.9999 dollars per mmbtu violating apex court directions.
That CPLA No 1983 of 2010 - contents of which may be read as part of this petition - was fixed before the apex court on February 17, 2011 when the court was pleased to direct as follows: "Important questions arise in this case relating to the role of the learned Attorney General under the Constitution and under the Rules of Business framed by the Federal Government. To consider these questions leave to appeal is granted. The matter can be heard by this Bench or by a larger Bench deemed appropriate by the Chief Justice.
Let the file be placed before the Chief Justice for orders." A case had been filed by the government against the judgement of Lahore High Court (LHC) of May 14, 2010 in a writ petition No 3708/2010 pending before the Supreme Court and fixed for hearing on February 17, 2011. The petroleum ministry has made Chairman OGRA, Member Finance/Vice Chairman and Member Gas as parties to the case.
Since only a short constitutional/legal point is involved in the case, the office may fix the appeal next month. Until then, the present arrangement shall continue. According to the petition in shocking disregard of this order, and for no purpose except to defeat the scope and effect of this order, Chairman Ogra, Member Finance/Vice Chairman Ogra and Member Gas attempted to upset the "present arrangement" and notified the gas well head price by increasing the same from 2.8274 dollars to 3.8999 dollars per MMBTU through notification dated February 17, 2011 (the "Notification") ie on the very day that this honourable court passed its order.
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