LAHORE: A Lahore High Court judge turned down on Tuesday a plea by the Chaudhry Sugar Mills, said to be owned by ruling Sharif family, to use its raw material as the mills had been sealed in the light of court’s previous order.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had on March 2 last ordered immediate sealing of Chaudhry Sugar Mills and Haseeb Waqas Sugar Mills after violation of different stay orders was transpired on part of the mills.

The bench is seized with appeals filed by three sugar mills, owned by Sharif family or their close relatives, challenging a single bench decision that set aside their shifting to new districts of south Punjab. The third appellant is Ittefaq Sugar Mills.

During the Tuesday’s hearing, petitioner’s counsel argued that the case of his client (mills) was entirely different with the other two mills. He said since the proceedings on the appeals were still pending adjudication the mills should be allowed to use its raw material.

However, the bench turned down the request and deferred hearing of main case till April 24. The bench said it would hold day-to-day hearing from next date.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2017