AGP admits irregularity in notifying sugar inquiry body

Tells IHC interior ministry issued inquiry commission notification instead of cabinet

ISLAMABAD:

Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan has admitted before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that instead of the Cabinet Division, the notification for the formation of the sugar inquiry commission was issued by the interior ministry, saying that the gazette notification was also delayed, which is a minor irregularity but in view of the courts’ decisions, it has no effect on the commission.

 The IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the intra-court appeal filed by the sugar mill owners against the sugar inquiry report on Thursday.

 The attorney general has completed his arguments in the case while counsel for the sugar mills, Makhdoom Ali Khan, made rejoinder submissions.

 “We cannot give directives to the regulators. All regulators have to apply their minds in an independent manner,” the attorney general apprised the court. “Facts have come forth in the sugar inquiry report.”

 In his arguments, the attorney general said that after the Hamoodur Rahman Commission, this is the most comprehensive report in the history as it covers every aspect.

 Hamoodur Rahman Commission was a judicial inquiry commission that assessed Pakistan’s political and military involvement in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) from 1947 to 1971. The commission was set up in 1971 by the Pakistan government and chaired by a Bengali chief justice Hamoodur Rahman.

 The commission’s final report was very lengthy. It contained extensive interviews and testimonies.

 The attorney general further said that the basic rights of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association were not affected, “nor was the inquiry commission’s investigation discriminatory”. The prime minister has said that “we will go into the depth of the matter”.

 The attorney general added that courts’ decisions are present. “If there has been any irregularity in issuing the notification or in its printing, it will not affect the commission. The essence of any work cannot be affected by technical irregularities.”

 

 Justice Farooq remarked that irregularity, whether small or big, should not be on part of the government. “These inadequacies do not portray a bright picture of the government.”

 Makhdoom Ali Khan in his rejoinder apprised the court that issuance of the notification is the very first step. “Even if a person is designated as member of assembly, without the Election Commission of Pakistan’s notification, nothing happens. In view of this rule, the inquiry commission’s on time notification was important.”

 The hearing has been adjourned till Friday (today) and Makhdoom Ali Khan will continue his arguments.