Tareen's Faruki Pulp Mills: LHC restrains FIA from taking coercive measures

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from taking coercive measures against Faruki Pulp Mills of PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen.

The court also sought replies from the respondents till September 18. Earlier, the petitioner's counsel argued that the action being taken by the FIA in the light of forensic audit report of sugar inquiry commission was illegal as it was ordered by the federal cabinet despite having no such jurisdiction.

He said the whole process including the constitution of the inquiry commission and subsequent proceedings by the FIA and Security & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) was done on the direction of special assistant to the prime minister on accountability and interior. He said the federal cabinet also ordered action against the sugar mills in light of the inquiry report. The counsel argued that the cabinet had no jurisdiction to hold any individual or organisation guilty of any alleged offence. He pointed out that the FIA, under the Companies Act 2017, could initiate its proceedings only on a reference sent by the SECP. The counsel further argued that an inquiry being held on the order of the federal government could not be a transparent and impartial one. He asked the court to set aside the summons issued to the petitioner/mills for being in violation of the Constitution. He also asked the court to suspend the impugned summons till final decision of the petition.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020