LHC declares relocation of Sharif sugar mills illegal

F.P. Report

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday declared relocation of Sharif family’s three sugar mills ‘illegal’.

A three-judge bench, headed by LHC Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, announced the verdict on a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and JDW Sugar Mills owner Jahangir Tareen.

The court ruled that all three sugar mills – namely Ittefaq Sugar Mills, Haseeb Waqas Sugar Mills and Chaudhry Sugar Mills – be moved back at earlier location within three months time frame.

The verdict in the case was reserved on May 26 this year after the counsels of defendant and plaintiff concluded their arguments.

Petitioner Jahangir Tareen had adopted a stance that the sugar mills were shifted to new locations despite a ban had previously imposed on relocating the mills, violating the government’s own policy.

Previously, the Chief Minister Punjab has been accused to breach the law by establishing three sugar mills despite a ban imposed back in 2006.

Earlier in March, the court had ordered to seal two of the three sugar mills owned by the Sharif family by also ordering suspension of crushing operations.

Moreover, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had also passed orders of halting the operations in all three sugar mills earlier this year.