'I always pay full price to my growers': Tareen

The government's team comprising Minister for Information, Shibli Faraz, SAPM and Barrister Shehzad Akbar on Thursday opted not to reply to a question on a bullet-proof car reportedly gifted by Jahangir Khan Tareen to his "friend" Prime Minister Imran Khan

During a press conference, a journalist asked why the Prime Minister has not returned the bullet proof car gifted to him by Jehangir Tareen Khan given that the Inquiry Commission has levelled very serious charges of tax evasion, price manipulation and getting subsidy illegally on Jahangir Khan Tareen the government's media team remained tight lipped.

The media was told that Prime Minister has directed the concerned Minister to prepare laws to discourage conflict of interest in government, adding that in the past politicians used public office for personal gain.

Minister for Information informed the media that the Prime Minister has also directed all the Advisors and Special Assistants to the Prime Minister to submit their asset details to the Secretary Cabinet. He said, according to the law, Advisors and Special Assistants are not bound to submit their asset details which will be made public.

Reacting to the Inquiry Report, Jahangir Khan Tareen said, "I am shocked at the kind of false allegations leveled against me. All Pakistan knows I always pay full price to my growers. I do not maintain two sets of books. I pay all my taxes diligently. I will answer every allegation and be vindicated."

Moonis Elahi, in his tweet said that "As stated earlier I am not involved in the management nor am I on the board of any sugar mill. I strongly support the recommendation of the Commission to control Satta/speculation including the new legislation to help government control sugar price manipulations."

The report states that Usman Buzdar, Chief Minister, Punjab appeared before the Commission and explained that the subsidy was discussed in the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Sugar on December, 17, 2018 which recommended the Rs 3 billion subsidy which was approved by the Cabinet in its meeting on December 29, 2018.

Buzdar further explained that the background to this decision was that PSMA and the sugarcane growers had held a meeting with the Minister, Food Department on December 6, 018 and had demanded a decision on subsidy before starting the crushing season.