How Imran Khan is responsible for mega corruption of sugar price hike?
As the final report of Sugar-price Hike has been made public by the investigation committee headed by FIA head Wajid Zia on April 4, holding prime minister’s close aide Jahangir Khan Tareen, and his cabinet member Khusro Bakhtiyar, and the son of Punjab Assembly Chaudhary Pervez Elahi’s son Moonis Elahi.
The inquiry committee formed by the prime minister Imran Khan in the wake of sugar price hike in February. The report has primarily held responsible Punjab government and the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa khuwah(KPK). According to the details of the report, Jahangir Khan Tareen, Minister for food Khusro Bakhtiyar’s brother Makhdoom Omer Shehryar Khan, son of Punjab Assembly Speaker Moonis Elahi are the prominent beneficiaries of the artificial sugar price increase. The top beneficiary of the sugar crisis was Jahangir Khan Tareen who availed 22 percent of the total subsidy of Rs 561 million. This is followed by Makhdoom Omer who availed 18 percent subsidy of Rs.452 million.
FIA report on sugar crisis tell tht @JahangirKTareen remained biggest beneficiary, followed by Umar Shahryar bro of @KhusroBakhtyar then @MoonisElahi6 . Q is this that they all took subsidy given by govt.Y they r named n blamed only? Where r those who gave them subsidy?Ghosts pic.twitter.com/mrEU9XWxEI
— Azaz Syed (@AzazSyed) April 4, 2020
As the sugar crisis emerged, many investigative journalists and insiders pointed out that it was artificial increase in the price of sugar. Meanwhile, the prominent TV anchor Shahzeb Khanzada also pointed out that the major beneficiary of that crisis was Jahangir Khan Tareen and Khusro Bkhtiar. Amidst these allegations, the PM formed committee headed by the Federal Investigation Agency FIA and Wajid Zia concluded the report’s findings citing PM Khan’s close aides responsible for the crisis. Amidst the preliminary reports, the prime minister Imran Khan gave a public statement earlier in March during the investigation that the names of Jahangir Tareen and Khusro Bakhtiar are not included amongst the beneficiaries of the sugar crisis in Pakistan. The question arises why Imran Khan gave public statement about his aides citing them as being not responsible for the sugar price hike.
Moreover, after the report has been made public , Imran Khan as usual is busy taking credit of making the report public about the involvement of his close aides. However, he has not taken a single step as prime minister to punish the culprits as defined in the constitution. Interestingly after the report was made public, Imran Khan’s tweeter account remained unspoken over the report giving impression that prime minister Imran Khan was surprised about the findings of the report and giving an impression that he could not managed to make the report confidential. After 15 hours of the report was made public, he tweeted taking credit of making the report public.
As promised preliminary reports into sudden price hikes of sugar & wheat have been released immed without alteration/tampering.This is unprecedented in Pak's history.Prev pol ldrships bec of their vested interests & compromises lacked moral courage to order & release such reports
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 5, 2020
However, the government ministers and PTI bigwigs seemed busy in defending Imran Khan and clapping for him as he made the report public.
Not surprisingly, opposition took the situation as point of politics and the government and Imran Khan’s manifesto of punishing the corrupt mafia was hit by the opposition. Shehbaz Sharif said that lets see what Imran Khan Niazi chooses for the corrupt mafia of his own aides about the findings of the report and if he would be able to bring them behind bars or leave them as exceptional. Maryam Aurangzeb maintained to say that the culprits should be removed form the government posts and government should take action against this mafia. However, it would be test for Imran Khan if he would be successful in punishing those involved in the crisis, if he fails, the politics of Imran Khan will be like a dead horse standing in the field as showpiece.
