Milk seller in Gujranwala declared ineligible to contest LG polls

E-Paper | June 04, 2026

GUJRANWALA: A milk seller in Punjab's Gujranwala district was declared ineligible to contest local body polls as he was selling milk on a price higher than that approved by the provincial government.

The returning officer rejected the nomination papers of the milk seller, Malik Tariq, an aspiring candidate for General Councillor seat in Gujranwala's Union Council 58, on the pretext that he was committing the 'crime' of robbing people of the area by selling milk at a higher price.

Shocked by the rejection of his nomination papers, Tariq fainted on the spot and was taken to the hospital. He was later discharged after provision of medical treatment.

The returning officer, Ateeq-ur-Rehman, while talking to DawnNews said that the milk seller was selling milk at Rs 80 per litre defying the Punjab government orders of selling it at Rs60 per litre and confessed his crime before him.

"I also work as a price control magistrate for the district and when I asked him as to what price he is charging for a litre of milk, he said Rs80 and such people shall not be allowed to take part in polls," said Ateeq-ur-Rehman, while defending his decision.

Former secretary Election Commission of Pakistan, Kunwar Dilshad Ahmed, while commenting on the incident said "rejecting nomination papers on such a pretext is illegal and ECP must take notice of the incident".

"Is every milk seller in Gujranwala selling milk on Rs60?" asked Dilshad.

The former ECP official said that the aspiring candidate can seek legal help over the issue and can challenge the returning officer's decision in a court.

Local body elections in Punjab and Sindh will be held in two phases with the first phase scheduled for October 31 and the second to be held on November 19.

Also Read ECP bans transfer of officers ahead of LG polls

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farjee

Sep 28, 2015 06:34pm

Wow this news is amazing.. Does anybody gets milk for 60 rupees in Pakistan? I could tell you that it's definitely not me..

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Sonia

Sep 28, 2015 06:34pm

Price controlling is dumb and produces only shortages. Punjab government should stop following failed policies. If they really want to control prices they should pay a subsidy to the producers.

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Mian

Sep 28, 2015 06:48pm

Our Justice system......... what can be said. bigger thieves are declared respectable and even courts dont touch them. Instead, common people are always the victims of "Merit".What a country.

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Saeed Masood

Sep 28, 2015 06:50pm

Good news...but please apply this law at all levels of our society.

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Iqbal Khan

Sep 28, 2015 06:54pm

It's good if it is implemented on big fishes as well.

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ali

Sep 28, 2015 06:57pm

Do they enough guts to question the elite class break the law day in a day out. Poor milk seller.

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Vectra

Sep 28, 2015 06:58pm

India allowed a tea seller to become a PM but pakistan is not allowing a Milk seller to contest LG polls.

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Tanweer Khan

Sep 28, 2015 07:04pm

So hang on a second here please. If this guy is "committing the 'crime' of robbing people", then surely you get him arrested and put in prison - or do you just reject his nomination papers and let him carry on committing his crimes. Bizarre!!!!

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Shujaat Khan

Sep 28, 2015 07:09pm

He would have made it all the way had he been a son of a politician.

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Wonder

Sep 28, 2015 07:09pm

A good move but only if applied across the board...!!!

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Shamas

Sep 28, 2015 07:13pm

just add double water and sell it for 60/- Rs, this is how it goes in Pakistan. I will rather buy a pure milk for 100 rupess rather than buy a half water of 60Rs.

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Aurangzeb

Sep 28, 2015 07:14pm

At least he is not stealing like current crooks!

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Fahad Nazir

Sep 28, 2015 07:16pm

Really funny policy of price control. Well Dear "Price Control Magistrate" you should visit the market sometimes as the Anhaar Milk & Prema are easily available for 120 per liter. And my my Anhaar is owned by same person who is making these policies for you lol. Please ask your Boss Khadam-e-Ala to regulate the price of his own milk products.

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Walayat Malik

Sep 28, 2015 07:22pm

It is true many people break the law and indulge in corruption but if any of these people want to run for the elected office they should not be allowed to do so. Only honest and patriotic people should be permitted to contest elections. This was a good step taken by the Retuning Officer.

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Ghalib

Sep 28, 2015 07:27pm

Give Credit where Credit is Due, If there are bigger crimes happening that does not mean ignore the smaller ones. I think RO took the correct decision, for the argument if there should be Price Control or Not is a completely different matter,

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syed wasim haider

Sep 28, 2015 07:30pm

What about big robbers? Penny wise pound foolish.

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Sep 28, 2015 07:47pm

He can sell his milk at any price he wants and the buyers are free to buy or not to buy. What business is it of the government? It is not the job of the government to control market prices.

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Fahad

Sep 28, 2015 08:20pm

@Vectra that milk seller is over charging his countrymen.

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Meera Jee

Sep 28, 2015 08:27pm

Correct only 20 rupees ?!?!? Had he been profiting for more than 50 rupees it would not have been a problem. You have to be a bigger crook to join the league.

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Jawad

Sep 28, 2015 08:29pm

The main question should be what educational degree he has?? What's his education level to stand in elections?? of he's a milk man I doubt he even passed 10th grade. We need educated people to run the country not milk men that without education. What is wrong with punjab.

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Sahil

Sep 28, 2015 08:37pm

This is good decision by retuning office and should be applicable to all corrupt politicians. This way EC can prevent corrupt people from entering the politics and becoming leaders. Imagine if this milk vendor was allowed to contest and won election ,he would have definitely looted govt treasury .

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M Jamal

Sep 28, 2015 08:38pm

This price magistrate has proved that he got this job on the basis of nepotism and is going to pay now.This is how Pakistan is run.

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Optimistic

Sep 28, 2015 08:41pm

The RO has done the right thing.Likewise the ROs of the General Election must evaluate each & evey candidate ,about his education,his work,his past criminal record,also recheck if he's the landowner his tax clearance,besides it must also be ensured that the candidate being a Sardar or landlord,could exert undue influence on the people of area to give him vote by hook or by crook..The election must be free,fair,transparent,free influence or pressure of any kind from the area landlord.

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Moola

Sep 28, 2015 08:55pm

In free market people can sell goods at the price they see fit. Unless they have monopoly, you can vote with your wallet. Price controls though popular with governing class to show they are defending the people against "predatory " businessman, has almost always failed. It only promotes corruption. Rejecting his papers is discriminatory. Like someone else said if this was a professional politician everything will be allowed.

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Ocean Apart

Sep 28, 2015 09:00pm

Might is Right on this land... where bigger thief rule and law is enforced on poor. We need Insaf at all levels.

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Indian

Sep 28, 2015 09:02pm

By the way price seems too high it only cost max 40 for tonned milk /ltr.... food for thought

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Gaurav Arya

Sep 28, 2015 09:10pm

Sir, you allow Zardari to contest polls but a person selling milk at 20/- extra is barred. Wah re insaaf!!!

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Husain Jan

Sep 28, 2015 09:23pm

Dear K. Dilshad saheb : Many others may be selling milk at a price other than the fixed price...but the aspiring candidate should have abided the law of provincial govt for sure. If any candidate is not a law abiding citizen how can any good behaviour be expected from such a person after getting elected ?Good and sensible decision by the R.O.

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Muhammad Arshad

Sep 28, 2015 09:26pm

What a shame! While I am not for people selling anything at an unfairly high price, I wonder on one hand, how the Punjab Government arrived at Rs. 60/Kg price and, on the other, how many people are selling at that price? If he is selling at a higher price, he is not forcing anybody to buy at that price? Nobody has to buy it at that price from him. These “Sharifs” have no clue how to control prices. You can never control prices by arbitrarily fixing the prices. This is such a flimsy argument to deny the man of his fundamental right. He is denied to contest for a counselor, while those who rob the nation day and night sit in the assemblies! What a justice system we have! Nothing but a shame! Some of you may remember the very high sugar prices that the sugar mill owners were charging despite the Supreme Court order to the contrary a few years back. May I know how many of those were declared ineligible for contesting the assembly seats? All laws are for the poor! Aren’t they?

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Haider

Sep 28, 2015 09:31pm

What is hamza shahbaz charging for a hen? Is it in line with govt rates?

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Imran

Sep 28, 2015 09:33pm

Our local Milk seller buy from my brother for 40 rupees per kilo and sell it for 60. They can't sell for 40

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Life

Sep 28, 2015 09:41pm

Irrespective of why him why not others etc. I think the decision is right.

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Muhammad Arshad

Sep 28, 2015 09:42pm

@Ghalib Selective justice is not justice, it is rather injustice. The punishment must be proportionate to the crime. Those who are sitting in the assemblies and ruling the country have been committing crimes millions of times bigger and worse than the "crime" that this guy has committed. His punishment is selective and not proportionate. Also, like pointed out in another comment, where was this magistrate when this guy was selling for higher than the controlled price. Why didn't he take action then? He just woke up to his "crime". This is injustice, not justice. Fine him for overcharging or give him whatever other punishment under the law. But you must not deny him his basic right. Further, when you come up with policies that are dumb (which this one is), you can never enforce them. And then the powers to be use those to their advantage at will.

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zee

Sep 28, 2015 09:44pm

@Jawad yes jawad you are right we need educated people like zardari and bilawal to run the country. Not honest people like the uneducated one that lived in mesina and changed the world

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flipflopcarrot

Sep 28, 2015 09:45pm

Really ! Who comes up with these policies.. If they control the prices there will never be competition thus prices will always be higher in the long run. Also, price controlling by the government will always lead to sellers going to the black market to profit. If I ever have the opportunity to meet the team who comes up with economic reforms and policies I swear I will smack their heads against a titanium wall..

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Lucky Star

Sep 28, 2015 09:49pm

If the price control is not the job of government as some of the commenters are saying, then why public cries to government for high prices. One can easily conclude the most of the commenters are either government haters or themselves involved in price gouging. Returning officer made the right decision and stopped this small fish from becoming big fish to rob in a big way. In the West, there is no price control because people in the West have conscious and they themselves lowers their prices during days of public importance like Christmas unlike their counterparts in Pakistan who raise their prices of everything during Raman and around the time of Eid.

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Peshawar

Sep 28, 2015 09:53pm

I feel sorry for :(

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Omer

Sep 28, 2015 09:58pm

Fraud and corruption is corruption whether small or big. Feel sorry for those elements here who have many justifications to support milk seller's fraud. And I Judge these elements as Govt. haters and followed of Imran Khan so; they have to hate anyway

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Sep 28, 2015 10:08pm

It is demand and supply. People are not sold milk at gun point.

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Yousaf

Sep 28, 2015 10:18pm

We want change in Pakistan but change has to come from Top.

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sab

Sep 28, 2015 10:51pm

IN Rawalpindi, the open milk is available for Rs80 to Rs100 per kg. Packed milk is even costlier.

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Karachitee

Sep 28, 2015 10:54pm

Someone rightly said all laws prepared only for commoners, and those who have the courage to let down the law are called Elite.

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sab

Sep 28, 2015 10:56pm

only in the papers of the Punjab government, the milk is sold for Rs60 per kg, the judge may buy milk from the provincial government

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Sep 28, 2015 11:04pm

80 isn't expensive , is it ? Its rupees 40 a litre in India so 80 seems just about right.

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Lucky Star

Sep 28, 2015 11:20pm

@Moola Why a policeman takes bribe? He does not do this fun, he does it to feed his family. Why does he need more money to feed his family because sellers sell their products of even basic needs at the prices a policeman can't afford. So, who is corrupt, a policeman or seller. I think, it is a seller. To make corruption free society, it is the business community whether a seller, a lawer or private pactiontioner doctor or a milk seller has to take the responsbility to think over whether they are the one who are making the ordinary citizens(employees-wage eraners) corrupt. Until then, government has the responsibility to protect its public from unconscios business community.

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Woz Ahmed

Sep 28, 2015 11:23pm

To be in politics, you need to be tough, your opponents will say and do anything to discredit you. If this gentleman faints at the first hurdle, it may be sign of his credibility and honesty, but Pakistani politics is dirty, with high criminality, he won't last five minutes, so best stick to the milk sector.

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mehdi

Sep 28, 2015 11:28pm

80/ltr ..... I would buy my own cattle and milk my self.

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ali

Sep 28, 2015 11:32pm

We are not talking about other milk sellers Mr Dilshad we are talking about this particular person whose intentions are clear it shows his character, he wants to mint money if elected.

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shoukat sheikh

Sep 28, 2015 11:32pm

Interesting. All elected Pakistani politician should be disqualified because they all are engaged in some sort of rigging.

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Parvez

Sep 29, 2015 12:02am

Absolutely correct decision........only big criminals can qualify.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Sep 29, 2015 12:12am

What to say and what not to say? Whom to side and whom to oppose? Havn't we stooped so low that if RO rejected the nomination paper because of over charging, shockingly and not regretfully, bulk majority of those who commented over here are after the skin of RO including former ECP official named Mr Dilshad? Aren't we justifying over charging? Didn't anyone realize that when now the milk seller dares charging extra Rs 20 he shall charge much more if elected simply because he gets some power to exert? As regards big fish,I vote for those want that big fish not be spared either but it does not mean that small fish be allowed to fleece since big are not held accountable. One must start from bottom or from top but we must roll the ball instead of just criticizing for criticism only. Take deep breath, think positively and comment. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.x.diplomat@hotmail.com

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Shahzad

Sep 29, 2015 12:18am

In reply to Kunwar Dilshad's question, and I quote that from the news, 'Is every milk seller selling milk at Rs 60...', I say that every milk seller is not contesting for public office. I fully agree with Mr. Ateeq ur Rehman's decision.

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nac Paris

Sep 29, 2015 12:55am

Amazing milk at 60 rupees. Disqualify Hamza and other selling milk at 100

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Loudmouth

Sep 29, 2015 01:15am

In other unrelated news NAB submitted a list in Supreme Court which contain 150 mega curruption cases which involve all our political elite inclusion current PM and CMs and minister But a poor milk man can't contest election cause he was selling milk on higher prices than government I know a lot of people who are happy to pay 100 ripped a little for pure milk than paying 60 for mixed with water milk

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Cambridgekid

Sep 29, 2015 02:59am

Packaged milk sells for Rs 120 a litre. Should all the milk packaging company bosses be arrested. Technically they should.

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Umar hashmi

Sep 29, 2015 04:03am

where the hell milk is being sold on rupees 60 per kg? hilarious! isn't it? if all the inputs are taken into account, this sale price is justifiable. however, if nominations can be cancelled on this non-issues, what about the bigwigs who are setting national policies?

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Akil Akhtar

Sep 29, 2015 05:06am

Maybe it is the right decision but at the same time we should ban the big fish who have siphoned off billions

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Life

Sep 29, 2015 05:24am

@Lucky Star. I agree with the first part of your comment for the second part I don't think it's concise rather its a sales decision in a highly competitive market.

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Talha

Sep 29, 2015 05:38am

@ali Dodh wala election lar raha hy, who is not abiding law now, guess what is he gonna do if get powered up.

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Talha

Sep 29, 2015 05:40am

@Aurangzeb He want to get powered to start stealing...he is not a law abiding citizen and thats more than enough to reject his nomination

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Talha

Sep 29, 2015 05:40am

@Jawad absolutely