ISLAMABAD, June 2: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has again summoned former prime ministers Raja Pervez Ashraf and Yousuf Raza Gilani this week in a case related to the controversial appointment of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s former chairman Tauqeer Sadiq.

“We sent fresh notices to both Raja Pervez Ashraf and Yousuf Raza Gilani last Friday,” a NAB official said on Sunday.

Talking to Dawn, NAB spokesman Ramzan Sajid said the two PPP leaders were expected to appear before investigators this week.

“A second notice is being sent to Mr Gilani because he did not comply with the first one according to which he was to visit the NAB headquarters on May 30,” he added.

Under the NAB Ordinance, stern action can be taken against a person who does not comply with three notices of the bureau. Such a person may face arrest and heavy fine.

The former prime ministers are accused of contributing to the ‘illegal’ appointment of Mr Sadiq, a relative of PPP leader Jehangir Badar.

Mr Ashraf appeared before the NAB investigators on May 17 and gave a brief statement. He was also given a questionnaire which he has to fill in and return by June 3.

Mr Ashraf had sought time till June 3 and NAB would go through his reply after which it would be decided whether his name should be included in the reference filed recently in connection with the Rs22 billion rental power projects (RPPs) scam.

The NAB official said if investigators were not satisfied with Mr Ashraf’s replies, a supplementary statement would be filed with the accountability court to include his name in the reference.

Earlier, NAB had considered Mr Ashraf as one of the main accused in the scam because the RPP contracts had been awarded with his approval in 2008 when he headed the water and power ministry.

Mr Sadiq has been declared as a proclaimed offender as he is also a principal accused in a Rs82bn scam. He fled abroad soon after the Supreme Court declared his appointment as Ogra chief illegal on Nov 25, 2011.

The apex court has been informed that Mr Ashraf was chairman of the interview board when Mr Sadiq’s appointment was made. Mr Gilani was the prime minister at the time.