LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought replies from the Punjab Agriculture Department and the cane commissioner on a petition against delay in fixing the price of cane and starting crushing season in sugar mills.

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza heard the petition filed by Kisan Board of Pakistan President Sardar Zafar Hussain Khan.

Advocate Rana Zubair Afzal argued on behalf of the petitioner, alleging that the so-called sugar mills mafia was economically exploiting sugarcane farmers with illegal tactics and enjoying support from the government.

He said the sugarcane crop has been ripened, but neither the government announced a supportive price of sugarcane so far nor the mills started crushing.

He pleaded that the current situation was detrimental forboth the farmers and the economy of the country.

The counsel stated that as per the Sugar Factories Control Act 1950, the crushing season means the period beginning on Oct 1 of a year and ending on next June 30.

However, he said, the month of October has ended and the sugar mills have not so far started crushing.

He argued that the government also failed to announce the support price before the start of the crushing season.

He asked the court to order the government to announce the support price of the sugarcane and the mills to start crushing.

The judge directed a provincial lawofficerto submitrepliesonbehalf of the respondents within a week.

PTI ACTIVIST: The Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the interior ministry to remove the name of PTI activist Tanzila Imran from the Passport Control List (PCL).

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirzaheard a petition by Tanzila challenging the inclusion of her name in the list.

An assistant attorney general opposed the petition, asserting that all legal requirements were met before adding the petitioner`s name to the list.

However, the petitioner`s counsel argued that her name was added to the PCL on political grounds without any legal or ethical justification.

The lawyer explained that the petitioner needed to travel abroad to visit her sister, which was currently impossible due to her inclusion on the list. He said the impugned action of the government was in violation of the fundamental rightsenshrinedintheConstitution.

He asked the court to strike down the impugned decision of the government and allow the petitioner travel abroad.

The judge allowed the petition and ordered the interior minister to remove the name of the petitioner from the PCL forthwith.