ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has obtained 10 more days from an accountability court for filing a reference against Tauqeer Sadiq, the former chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), and other accused in a Rs82billion scam.

“We sought 10 more days for filing the reference and the court accepted our request,” NAB spokesman Ramzan Sajid told Dawn on Monday.

According to an earlier directive of the court, the bureau was required to file the reference on Monday.

The spokesman said the reference would be finalised by the NAB’s executive board this week and filed after approval by the bureau’s chairman.

Another official of the bureau said that the Rawalpindi branch of NAB had finalised the draft reference and sent it to the bureau’s headquarters for approval.

But the headquarters raised some objections and returned the draft reference to the branch for ratification.

“We have removed objections and sent the document to the headquarters again,” the official said.

In reply to a question about the role of Yousuf Raza Gilani in ‘illegal’ appointment of Mr Sadiq in 2009, he said it had been mentioned in the draft reference that Mr Gilani had defied five notices of NAB and did not record his statement.

According to the NAB Ordinance, the bureau can issue arrest warrants against any person who defies three notices issued by it.

In response to one of the notices, Mr Gilani reportedly said that he had appointed Mr Sadiq as Ogra chairman in his capacity as prime minister and National Accountability Bureau cannot challenge the decision of the prime minister.

“Now it is up to the court to decide about Mr Gilani,” the official said.

Mr Sadiq was arrested at Abu Dhabi and brought to Pakistan on July 9.