KARACHI: Terming the Sugar Inquiry Commission report null and void on Monday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to launch a fresh investigation into the matter.
A division bench of the SHC comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Omar Sial announced the reserved verdict on a petition filed by the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) against an inquiry commission formed by the government to probe into a sugar crisis that hit the country earlier this year.
The report highlighted the increase in sugar prices across the country.
The court also directed the FBR, FIA, and NAB to include in the investigation people who had knowledge about the sugar industry. The bench urged the institutions to find out if anyone was given illegal or unjust subsidy.
The court directed NAB, the FIA, and FBR to carry out fresh investigations as per the law. The court ordered NAB to carry out an independent investigation according to line with the NAB Ordinance.
“If any government official has misused his powers, it should be investigated,” said the SHC. It also asked the FBR to investigate the matter according to the country’s tax laws.
Earlier, soon after the report surfaced, sugar mill owners challenged the commission’s finding in the Sindh and Islamabad high courts to stop the government from taking action against them.
The SHC had halted the operation of the report to the extent of 12 sugar mills. The federal government, however, through the office of the attorney general of Pakistan, had moved the apex court, praying to grant leave to appeal.
Last month, the Supreme Court (SC) rejected the plea of the federal government seeking suspension of the SHC order that had halted the operation of the recommendations of the report.
The apex court rejected the plea of the federal government and referred the matter to a three-member bench with the observation that the instant matter will be decided on merit and adjourned it till further hearing.
The bench later recalled the stay and directed both the SHC and the IHC to decide on the legal proceedings pending before them within three weeks.
