SC approves Sharif family’s plea against LHC decision of shifting Chaudhry sugar mills

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday approved a plea for hearing filed by the Sharif family against the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict of the sugar mills’ shifting at earlier location.

A three-judge bench of Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing a case pertaining to relocation of the sugar mills in South Punjab when it approved Sharif family’s plea for hearing.

In September 2017, the LHC ruled that all three sugar mills – owned by Sharif family members – be moved back at earlier location within three months time frame.

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

The bench then declared relocation of Sharif family’s sugar mills in South Punjab ‘illegal’ and ordered all three sugar mills – namely Ittefaq Sugar Mills, Haseeb Waqas Sugar Mills and Chaudhry Sugar Mills – be moved back at earlier location. 

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.