In Lahore, the Anti-corruption department has filed another case against Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, the President of PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf). This brings the total number of cases against him to six. The new case pertains to allegations of manipulating the sugar mills’ crushing quotas. In connection with this case, three individuals, including former secretary Dr. Khurram Shahzad, have been arrested.
Additionally, the case involves Makhdoom Umar Shehryar, the brother of former federal minister Khusro Bakhtiar, along with other individuals such as Monis Elahi, Ahlia Tahirim Elahi, former director-general of industries Rao Parvez Akhtar, Nawaz Cheema, Munir Hussain, Imaduddin, and former deputy commissioner Rahim Yar Khan. Following the investigation, actions will be taken against five officers, including Assistant Commissioner Liaquatpur.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), a committee was established to enhance the efficiency of the sugar mills, with DG Industries Parvez Akhtar leading the four-member committee. Other members included Special Secretary to the Chief Minister Khurram Shahzad, DG Agriculture Anjum Ali, and DC Salman Lodhi. The sugar mill’s initial crushing capacity was 17,000 tons per day, but in 2022, Pervez Elahi allegedly approved an increase to 22,000 tons per day. However, it is claimed that both sugar mills illicitly raised their capacity to 42,000 tons per day. It’s worth noting that Munis Elahi and Tahirim Elahi have stakes in both of these sugar mills.