PESHAWAR, Jan 12: In a civil suit filed by the

Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) against abolition of subsidised wheat quota to 25 flour mills in the Peshawar district, a local court on Saturday directed the government to distribute wheat to mills without any discrimination till further orders.

Civil Judge Sumbal Naseer directed the Peshawar District Coordination Officer and the NWFP food director to maintain the status quo for 14 days subject to any contrary order to be issued by the superior courts.

The court fixed Jan 26 for the next hearing and issued notices to two defendants, the DCO and the food director.

The PFMA had filed a declaratory suit in the civil court through its divisional vice-chairman Imranullah Khan, challenging a food department’s decision of abolishing the supply of subsidised wheat to 25 flour mills and providing the quota to only seven mills.

Advocate Moazam Butt appeared for the plaintiff.

He said the Peshawar High Court in one of its judgments in 1997 titled “Asif Flour Mills versus the NWFP government” had decided that Article 25 of the Constitution guaranteed equality to all citizens and non-releasing the quota of subsidised wheat offended fundamental rights.

He said it was the right of the flour mills that they were treated equally and without discrimination whereas defendants had decided to issue the wheat quota to seven mills with mala fide intention.

Mr Butt said that despite repeated requests of the plaintiff the defendants had refused to act in accordance with law and to admit their genuine demand to be treated without discrimination.

The plaintiff said that about 32 flour mills were operational in the Peshawar district.

He said that under the law they all were entitled to be granted and issued subsidised wheat.

The plaintiff claimed that the defendants had decided to issue the subsidised wheat quota to its handpicked flour mills without any legal authority.

He said the defendants had informed the plaintiff that they would issue the wheat quota to mills of their choice.

The plaintiff requested the court to direct the defendants to implement judgments of the high court in respect of issuing subsidised wheat to flour mills in the district without any discrimination.