Wheat, sugar scandal: Punjab food minister resigns amid controversy

• Samiullah submitted resignation for his direct involvement in wheat and sugar scam.
• Government removes Jahangir Tareen from chairmanship of Agriculture Task Force.
• Punjab CM demotes Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Naseem Sadiq to OSD.

(Karachi) Punjab Food Minister Samiullah Chaudhry has resigned from his post, media reported on Monday. The high profile resignation came in wake of the wheat and sugar scandal report that was made public a few days ago.

According to details, the minister submitted resignation after he was accused of not bringing reforms in the food department and his direct involvement in the wheat and flour scandal.

Chaudhry said he has been illegally involved in the scandal. He added that all the allegations against him are based on malign intentions. "I present myself for accountability on every forum," Samiullah remarked. "I cannot hold government office till i am cleared of the charges," he said.

Meanwhile, taking action on the wheat and sugar crisis report, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar demoted Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Naseem Sadiq to Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Sadiq had served as Punjab food secretary in 2019.

The government has also removed Jahangir Tareen from the chairmanship of Agriculture Task Force in light of findings of sugar and wheat inquiry report, as per media reports. Tareen, who is considered as the most senior PTI member and close aide to PM Imran Khan, has been sacked after the Federal Investigation Agency initiated investigations against him for his involvement and being a beneficiary in the wheat scandal.

Further action is expected after final findings of the inquiry committee.

Tareen, however, denied the allegations and said that he is being victimized on the instructions of PM's Principal Secretary Azam Khan. He said the FIA had been carrying out probe from his financial officer for the last many days.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan confirmed that Samiullah's resignation has been accepted. He added Chaudhry's move is a welcoming sign and his step is appreciable keeping in view the circumstances after the report in wheat scandal was made public.

He said Samiullah tendered his resignation voluntarily and without any pressure.

Earlier, the prime minister had constituted two high-powered committees under Director General Federal Investigation Agency and comprising a senior officer of Intelligence Bureau and DG Anti Corruption Establishment Punjab to investigate the causes behind the crises and price hike of the said commodities.

After the formation of the said committees, the prime minister had repeatedly resolved to expose and penalize those found responsible for the sugar and wheat crises to avoid the recurrence of such acts.

On submission of inquiry reports from both the committees, certain additional questions were also referred to the bodies seeking further clarifications. The committees had furnished separate main and supplementary reports to address the further queries raised by the Prime Minister House.

The report held some ministers and members belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf responsible for creating artificial crisis and hike in prices of wheat and flour.

The committee on wheat crisis comprised DG FIA Wajid Zia, Deputy DG IB Mubarak Zeb and DG Anti Corruption Punjab Muhammad Gohar Nafees.

The committee on the subject of sugar consisted of DG FIA Wajid Zia, Deputy DG IB Ahmad Kamal and DG Anti Corruption Establishment Punjab Muhammad Goher Nafees.