Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has accused Sugar Inquiry Commission of raiding "targeted" sugar mills and misbehaving with the staff and employees during the process of search and seizure of documents.
These accusations have been hurled by the Secretary General PSMA, in a letter (written on behalf of Chairman PSMA Aslam Farooque) to Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Wajid Zia. However, DG FIA claims that all teams have been issued strict instructions to ensure that no undue inconvenience or harassment is caused during the discharge of duty.
According to the PSMA's letter, there are reports that certain officers of FIA under section 6 of the Act have been allowed to enter into premises of certain sugar mills and conduct search, examine and powers to seize the record relevant to the proceedings of the Sugar Inquiry Commission.
The Association says that on February 20, 2020, it had itself volunteered to give DG FIA a presentation with regard to the increase in sugar prices. Pursuant to that PSMA met DG FIA on March 02, 2002 and March 17, 2020 and gave a detailed presentation and answered all his questions.
PSMA also assured DG FIA of utmost cooperation by all sugar mills with the inquiry. However, it came to as a surprise that actions like search and seizure of record were taken in such a hasty manner.
"We also note with concern that before taking such extreme steps of search and seizure, no opportunity was given to any sugar mill to provide the required information or documents to the Sugar Inquiry Commission and to have them verified respectively," said Chairman in his letter.
PSMA, in its letter has also stated that in fact, till March 25, 2020 neither the Ministry of Interior's notification of March 16, 2020 nor the terms of reference of Sugar Inquiry Commission have been shared with either the Association or any sugar mill. Sugar industry was of the view that it was not possible to ascertain which records/ documents of the sugar mills are relevant to the proceedings of the Sugar Inquiry Commission.
"It is also concerning that only a few of our members appear to have been selected/ targeted for such invasive action of search and seizure, which is highly discriminatory. Furthermore, no reasons or justifications for such selection/ discrimination have been provided," Chairman PSMA added.
The Association further stated that while the purpose and intent behind a Commission of Inquiry under the Act is merely fact-finding the officers deputed by the DF FIA, perhaps because of their affiliation with the FIA under/ or FBR, are treating the matter as if it were a criminal investigation and as if mills and their employees are criminals.
Responding to the letter of Chairman PSMA, Director General FIA, and Wajid Zia has explained that need-based on-spot examination of the relevant record was found inevitable to achieve the purpose of constituting the Commission, as spelled out in the ToRs provided in the Commission's notification.
Teams were therefore constituted in exercise of powers conferred by Section 6 read with Section 10(b) of the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act, 2017. Nevertheless, all teams have been issued strict instructions to ensure that no undue inconvenience or harassment is caused during the process of their duty.
DG FIA, however, is of the view that while considering the PSMA letter, he is again issuing appropriate directions to all teams in this regard. Meanwhile, PSMA has been asked to share any such incident or transgression or misuse of powers by any team so that prompt measurers could be taken to avoid such complaints. DG FIA has also welcomed PSMA's officer of a follow-up presentation.