Chief Justice, Lahore High Court, Sheikh Azmat Saeed, on Friday adjourned the proceedings, in a petition filed against black marketing, profiteering and hoarding of sugar, to February 27 and directed the petitioner to submit his rejoinder to a reply of Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).
TCP has submitted that it had purchase 2.5 metric tons sugar at Rs 65 per kg and now it would also purchase 100,000MT sugar at the Rs 45 per kg. The petitioner, a bar member, Azhar Saddiqu, contended that the TCP has admitted of purchasing sugar at high price and hence action should be taken against the responsible officials.
The court, however, adjourned the proceeding and directing the petitioner to file his rejoinder. He alleged that political personalities, sugar mills owners would get benefit. He submitted that by purchasing about 100,000MT sugar, the national exchequer would face a loss of Rs 2.5 billion and the public at large would be forced to purchase sugar at exaggerated price. He, therefore, prayed to the court to restrain the TCP from floating sugar tenders at Rs 63-65 per kg till the court decision.