LHC allows sugar mill to challenge ban on tall crops

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Wednesday permitted a sugar mill to approach the Multan bench of the court against restrictions imposed on the cultivation of tall crops in Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur districts, where security concerns in Katcha areas have led to regulatory action.

The petition was filed by JDW Sugar Mills, owned by senior politician Jahangir Khan Tareen, challenging separate notifications issued by the deputy commissioners (DCs) of Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur. The notifications had imposed a ban on growing tall crops in the respective districts.

During the hearing, Advocate Shahzad Elahi, former attorney general, appeared on behalf of the petitioner and requested that the matter be taken up at the principal seat of the LHC. Assistant Advocate General Waqas Umar represented the Punjab government.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that since two separate notifications had been issued by different district administrations, the company would otherwise be required to file petitions before different benches of the Lahore High Court, including Multan and Bahawalpur.

After hearing the arguments, the chief justice directed that the petitioner may instead approach the Multan bench to challenge both notifications together. Following this direction, the petition was disposed of.