Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Accountability Barrister Shahzad Akbar on Wednesday said new revelations had come to light regarding the sugar probe report, and pinpointed the PML-N and former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for providing the most subsidies to the sugar industry.
Addressing a press conference here in the federal capital, Akbar said Rs29 billion worth of subsidies were given over the past five years, with only Rs2.4 billion offered by the Punjab government during the incumbent PTI government’s tenure.
“In PML-N’s tenure, more than Rs26 billion worth of subsidies were given,” he said. Terming it a criminal act, he added that permission to export 400,000 tonnes of sugar was given in March 2017.
“[Former prime minister] Shahid Khaqan Abbasi gave Rs20 billion worth of subsidies. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi considered himself to be Laiq-e-Azam [the most competent person],” he said, adding that the PML-N leader headed the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) at the time.
The special assistant said the report from the sugar probing commission was presented in the federal cabinet, which decided to make it public. The investors profited from fluctuations in sugar prices while the common people and farmers bore the brunt, he added.
PM Imran, he underlined, had formed a commission to probe the fluctuation in sugar prices and the consequent report was made public as soon as it was received.
“Maybe some of our friends did not read the report properly. Perhaps the Opposition didn’t understand it as the report is in English and lengthy,” Akbar said. “Audit matters have been reviewed in the report,” he noted, adding that a very important portion in it was the amount of subsidy given by PML-N and specifically by Abbasi.
Subsidies were given due to “mismanagement in determining the production prices”, he said.
“Salman Shehbaz was the facilitator of the sugar subsidies,” Akbar claimed, adding that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had said there was no link between the subsidies and his son Salman’s businesses.
“Shehbaz Sharif has isolated himself. The case of TTs against him is in its final stages. Once it is finalised, he will have to answer in court,” he said, referring to an ongoing probe into telegraphic transfers (TTs) tracing back to the former chief minister of Punjab. “How was Shehbaz Sharif able to purchase expensive homes for his wives in housing societies? These expenses were carried out through kickbacks and fake accounts.
