ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench of Pakistan’s top court Tuesday directed authorities to take immediate steps for making deportation of former Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority chairman Tauqir Sadiq possible.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, ordered this while hearing a case pertaining to implementation of its orders in Rs 82 billion scam in Ogra.

Additional Prosecutor General NAB Rana Nazir told the court that every possible step was being taken for the arrest and deportation of Tauqir Sadiq from Dubai. He said NAB was continuously in contact with the Dubai authorities.

Some media reports had alleged that the Pakistani embassy was not cooperating with the NAB team which is presently in Abu Dhabi to get custody of the former Ogra chief who is under detention in the central jail there.

Nazir, during Tuesday’s court proceedings, said Sadiq was likely to be deported and handed over to Pakistani authorities next week.

The chief justice noted that Tauqir Sadiq’s passport was cancelled, thus NAB should get his deportation instead of prolonging the matter.

Later, the court adjourned hearing of the case to March 4.

The Supreme Court on Feb 11 had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government authorities and their subordinate divisions and offices whether in Pakistan or abroad to render full and prompt assistance to the NAB in pursuing the absconding accused (Tauqir Sadiq) and bringing him back to Pakistan.

The Ogra’s former chairman had fled Pakistan for Abu Dhabi after the Supreme Court declared his appointment illegal on Nov 25 last year– PPI/DawnNews