Ogra chief removed

Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Tauqir Sadiq, has been removed from office (officially sent on forced leave) after the Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani gave a green signal for the change. Sadiq is a close relative of Senator Jahangir Badar. "I cannot work with thieves. We are now looking for a suitable candidate for this slot," said Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain.
Giving details, the sources said Prime Minister on February 12, 2009, did not find Tauqir Sadiq appropriate for appointment as Chairman OGRA and directed the Cabinet Division to propose a fresh panel with necessary qualification and relevant experience. Consequently Tauqir Sadiq was not short-listed; however, he successfully manoeuvred to be short-listed by submitting false information.
The credentials of Tauqir Sadiq were never verified. He relied upon his LLM degree from a non-accredited private university in London without having studied in the said institution. He claimed in his CV that he took his LLM examination in 2003 whereas the copy of the certificate furnished by him bears the date of November 23, 2005. On the basis of LLM degree, he managed to get himself recognised as "highly qualified in the field of law" without practicing law as an advocate for the period required.
He has indicated in his CV that he worked with Raza Kazim and Passco from 1989 to 1994. He also indicated in his CV that he was carrying out his own practice from November 2000 to April 2002 which was found incorrect. This could not be counted in the overall experience. He had not attained the required 20 years of experience at the time of appointment as Chairman, OGRA.
Tauqir Sadiq did not meet a single criterion advertised for the position of Chairman, OGRA. His degree has also been challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He committed contempt of court on February 17, 2011 by approving/ issuing notification of well head gas price of $3.899 per MMBTU of Dewan Petroleum whereas Supreme Court had ordered on 17.2.2011 to continue the present arrangement ie the well head gas price of US $2.8274 per MMBTU.