ISLAMABAD, March 23: A flour mill operating in Wah Cantonment has demanded of the Federal Food Committee (FFC) to conduct neutral investigations into suspension of its wheat quota by officials of the Rawalpindi Food Department, alleging that the mill was targeted due to the owner’s particular political affiliation and refusal to pay commission.

The Usman Flour and General Mills has appealed to the FFC to form a committee to investigate into the reasons behind the suspension of

Chief Executive of the mill Khwaja Rehan Anjum, in a written complaint, alleged that some officials of the food department had acted against it due to “personal grudge” and ill-will after the mills’ management “failed to grease their palms”.

The food department has suspended quota to the mill on the charges of improper grinding and smuggling of flour to the NWFP and misbehaving with its inspection team.

Mr Anjum said hundreds of its dealers had been suffering after the suspension of the wheat quota since March 11, adding that the decision was also badly affecting the labourers working on daily wages in the mill.

“The food department’s action was politically motivated and the same officials had acted as police, lawyer and judge, by framing charges against the mill and announcing punishment,” he said.

In its appeal, the mill has ignited another controversy as it has alleged that one of the food department officials, who is involved in stopping the wheat to the mill, was also involved in the notorious wheat scandal of 1985 and remained suspended for 12 years (1985-1997).

It has also accused one of the food department’s officials of taking fifty paisa per bag of wheat a day.

The mill has alleged that the official earns Rs25,000 per day by issuing 50,000 wheat bags to mills.

The mill has also alleged that some officials of the food department were involved in the smuggling of flour and wheat from Punjab to the NWFP.