IHC allows govt to move against 'sugar mafia' Withdraws stay order over action on sugar probe commission's report.

Byline: Zubair Qureshi

Islamabad -- The Islamabad High Court on Saturday vacated the stay it had earlier given stopping the government from acting against the 'sugar mafia.'

The court on June 11 had stopped the government from action only days after the Federal Investigation Agency submitted its investigation report to the federal government regarding shortfall of sugar during Ramazan and its high prices and the government was to take action against the sugar mafia in the light of the inquiry commission's report.

The millers had moved the court against the sugar inquiry commission report claiming it was lopsided and had failed to ensure transparency and fair play.

Chief Justice of the IHC after hearing the Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan's arguments had briefly reserved the judgment that was announced later in the day.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah decided against extending the restraining order, however, observing in the two-page short order that the right to a fair trial of any party should not be affected, including the petitioner.

The verdict further says that the inquiry commission was formed according to the IHC's short verdict and the government's decision of sending the case to National Accountability Bureau was correct.

The court also stopped the federal ministers from commenting on the verdict. The detailed verdict of the case will be released later on. During the hearing of the case, Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that setting the price of commodities was not the job of the court.

During his arguments, Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan informed the court that the sugar inquiry commission report was not biased as it was also against some government persons.

Justice Athar Minallah, while having a dialogue with a lawyer of the sugar mills...