ABU DHABI // The former head of Pakistan’s oil and gas regulator should be extradited, a UAE court has ruled.
Tauqir Sadiq was arrested in the UAE on December 29 after fleeing Pakistan, where he is accused of embezzling more than Dh3 billion. He entered the UAE on a baker’s visa, but was tracked down after an Interpol notice.
The Pakistan government requested his extradition and he was put on trial at the Federal Appeals Court. The court decided Mr Sadiq should be extradited to Pakistan. Mr Sadiq has 30 days to appeal against the verdict at the Federal Supreme Court.
He is accused of taking kickbacks during his time as head of Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority between 2009 and 2011.
The allegations made against Mr Sadiq could also lead to a criminal case against the former Pakistan prime minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf.
Mr Ashraf was water and power minister at the time of the alleged embezzlement. Mr Sadiq fled Pakistan a year ago.
On January 24, Pakistan’s supreme court registered a case against Mr Ashraf, the country’s former interior minister Rehman Malik and another senior member of the Pakistan People’s Party over Mr Sadiq’s appointment in 2009 and his flight.
The court has also ordered Mr Ashraf’s arrest over a corruption investigation from his tenure as water and power minister.
hdajani@thenational.ae
