LAHORE: After spending several months in the United Kingdom, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Jahangir Tareen has arrived here on Friday; he was accompanied by his son Ali Tareen. While taking to media at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, the former PTI general secretary dismissed the speculation that he fled the country to escape an inquiry. "I went to the UK for medical treatment and for the last several years I have been visiting the country every year for the medical check-up".

Responding to the Opposition's criticisms over his alleged involvement in the sugar scandal, he stated that it is their job to level allegations and thus he does not need to respond to them. "Thanks to the Almighty, all my business is clean," he added.

Meanwhile, soon after arriving in Lahore, he tweeted a message to clarify that his company, the JDW (Jamal Din Wali Sugar Mills Limited), is not part of the petition against the Punjab government's notification to start crushing on November 10. "All of my mills, including those in Sindh, will start crushing on November 10 and I will play my part in helping the government overcome the sugar shortage and price hike," he added.

Earlier this year, a sugar inquiry commission was constituted to investigate the causes behind the sugar price hike. The Commissions revealed the names of several big shots benefited from the sugar crisis and Tareen's name was one of them. The sugar scandal became the cause for his removal from the office of PTI General Secretary and soon after he departed for the UK.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020