Sugar Mills mafia case: Several PTI leaders allegedly involved in corruption

ISLAMABAD: Several leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf are allegedly involved in billions of rupees of corruption in sugar mills mafia case.

According to details, the Federal Investigation Agency has unearthed major evidence in the sugar mill mafia corruption worth Rs 14.23 billion.

Sources have claimed that during the last two years, almost 3 to 5 percent of cuts have been made in the purchase of sugarcane from farmers.

In this regard, sources claimed that the names of PTI leaders and government officials are among those who have given permission for sugarcane cuts.

A committee headed by former Food Minister Sami Ullah Chaudhry has approved sugarcane cuts. The committee includes Industry and Commerce Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Irrigation Minister Mohsin Leghari, and former Cane Commissioner Wajid Ali Shah. However, the Sugarcane Act does not allow any deduction in the purchase.

In his regard, head of the committee and former Punjab Food Minister Sami Ullah Chaudhry said the cuts were allowed in accordance with the law. “The FIA Lahore and the Cane Commissioner’s Office had already acquired us for details and we have already replied,” he added.

Samiullah Chaudhry assured that he would give an explanation to FIA regarding the cuts, while the decision was taken by the committee after a detailed discussion. Minister for Industry and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the committee did not do anything illegal.

Sources also informed that in the current financial year, the sugar mills owners obtained almost 31.4 27 million metric tons of sugarcane free of cost. Punjab’s sugar mills earned Rs7.4 billion in a year by cutting sugarcane purchases.

On the other hand, Chairman Sugar Mills Association Aslam Farooq informed that the series of deductions was not new. The investigation is underway by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

During 2018-19, more than 1.5 million tons of sugarcane was cut, while the corruption of Rs 6.77 billion was done by cutting sugarcane purchases.