The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday barred Secretary Cabinet Division from exercising his powers as acting chairman Ogra. The court also sought report from federation regarding non-suspension of two members (Gas and Finance) of the Authority, who are facing inquiry over petrol crisis in the country.
On February 12, Federal government sent Ogra chairman Saeed Ahmed Khan on forced leave for three months in wake of countrywide petrol crisis and filed a reference against him under Sub-Section 11 of Section 3 of the Ogra Ordinance before Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).
However, Saeed Khan challenged the forced leave in the IHC, which restored him. But the order to restore Khan was suspended in Intra Court Appeal (ICA) filed by the federal government in the matter.
On Monday, while resuming the hearing of the ICA, a division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amir Farooq issued directives to FPSC to complete inquiry of the matter in a month.
As per the Ogra Act, the presence of chairman and two members is a prerequisite for completing the quorum.
Member Finance Mir Kamal Marri was suspended over two years ago on charges of corruption in which former Ogra chairman Tauqeer Saddiq was accused of over Rs 82 billion embezzlement.
During the course of hearing, Additional Attorney General for Pakistan Afnan Karim Kundi told the court that Mir Kamal Marri had not yet been removed since Ogra corruption case is pending adjudication before the accountability court of Islamabad.
Member (Oil) Khusro Pervaiz Khan and member (Gas) Amir Naseem are also facing charges of conflict of interest, whereas Member (Oil) post is lying vacant because of the prolonged stay order. Member (Gas) Amir Naseem was a senior official of Sui Northern Pipeline Gas when he was appointed as member (Gas) in Ogra, he added.
The bench was taken aback over the fact that Ogra Chairman and all members were facing inquiries. Later, hearing of the matter was adjourned till next Monday.
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