Supreme Court (SC) while accepting pleas of Hamza Sugar Mill and GDW sugar mill for becoming respondents in the case pertaining to relocating sugar mills from cotton producing areas has adjourned the hearing of the case for indefinite period.
A 3-member bench of SC presided over by Justice Umar Ata Bandial took up the petitions related to shifting of sugar mills from cotton producing areas Monday.
At the inception of hearing of the case Khawaja Tariq Rahim tried to speak on rostrum without permission and justice Mansoor Ali Shah reprimanded him remarking “ will lawyer tell us how to run the case. Lawyer Sahb talk when your turn comes.
Counsel for Hamza Sugar Mills argued the notification about ban on installing sugar mills is very clear. Under section 3 of notification application can not be given for setting up new sugar mill. Section 3 however does not stop me from filing application for setting up sugar mills. Punjab government can not stop me from giving application. Punjab government can reject my application.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked there is contradiction in the statement of federal minister Fakhar Imam. On one side he has said cotton production has fallen by 25 percent and on the other hand he has said the steps taken by the federal government has led to increase the cotton production. The powerful elite has discouraged cotton production by exercising his influence.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case for indefinite period.
