SC rejects govt's plea to suspend SHC order in Sugar Inquiry Commission case.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the federal government's plea to suspend Sindh High Court's order to stop implementation on the recommendations of Sugar Inquiry Committee.

A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan heard the case.

During the course of proceedings, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan said that the Islamabad High Court had also given a decision over the matter and asked whether this was not brought to the notice of SHC.

The Attorney General said that the decision of the Islamabad High Court was mentioned in the petition of Sugar Mills. The interim order of the Sindh High Court did not mention the decision of the Islamabad High Court.

He said that the commission report had revealed many allegations against sugar mills.

The Chief Justice asked shouldn't the commission have given the sugar mills a chance to explain their position?

The Attorney General said that there was no need for the stance of sugar mills in the fact finding commission. However, the commission's proceedings were not suspended, he added.

He said that all executive authorities had been activated and the commission's report was an eye-opener.

Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan asked whether any action had been taken against the sugar mills on the report of the commission.

The Attorney General responded that some sugar mill owners filed petition in Peshawar High Court and some owners filed petition in Balochistan High Court.

He said that some sugar mill owners did not want the authorities to act on the report.

The Chief Justice asked this was a commission report and why mill owners wanted stay on it.

Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan, counsel for sugar mill owners said that the executive orders were challenged by the owners in different high courts.

He said that it was not unusual that mill owners approached the high courts.

Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan observed that the same mill owners who approached the Islamabad High Court went to the Sindh High Court. He asked how could the same association approach two different high courts?

The Chief Justice asked what was the concern of the mill owners on the report of the Sugar Commission?

The counsel stated that the Sugar Mill Association approached the Islamabad High Court. He said the commission's report only suggested recommendations.

He said that if there was an impressive finding in a report, a case could be filed.

Justice Ijaz observed that apparently the commission did a fact...