Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has ruled out any probe by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) into sugar scandal.
In a TV interview, he said 'it is indeed a serious matter that needs to be probed accordingly keeping in view all the aspects of the matter, from sugar crops, agricultural problems and the circumstances in the market'.
He, however, made it clear that the issue did not fall within the ambit of the NAB. 'I do not think this matter is to be probed by the NAB' he pointed out.
He disowned Chaudhry sugar mills and said 'it is often mistaken as our mill. Nawaz Sharif and his family in fact own it. We have nothing to do with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills and all such concerns having the name of Chaudhry do not belong to us,' he added.
Chaudhry Shujaat said, 'we have only two mills one Punjab Sugar Mill and the other Phalia Sugar Mill.' Asked about implication of the Phalia Sugar Mill into sugar scandal, he said, "that is not true. The government had directed all the sugar mills of the country to sell at least 50 percent of their stocks in this season, but Phalia sugar mill sold 75 percent of its stock," he said.
About alleged involvement of federal ministers Humayun Akhtar Khan, Jehangir Tareen, Salim Altaf and PML MNA Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema in the scam, Chaudhry Shujaat said he couldn't speak on behalf of the others. "You can ask these questions from them as well and they may be offering their defence," he added.