PESHAWAR: The Adviser to the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for information and public relations, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, has demanded formation of a judicial commission to investigate the `sugar scandal`.

He stated that after wheat, now through manipulation of sugar export and import, the sugar mill mafia has been granted undue benefits, according to a statement issued here on Tuesday.

He called for an independent and transparent investigation into the sugar scandal and strict punishment for those found involved.

He alleged that it was crystal clear that the sugar mill mafia was directly linked to the ruling elite.

Several sugar mills are owned by the Sharif family, which allegedly gained billions of rupees through this import-export manipulation.

Barrister Saif further alleged that Rs38 billionhad been extracted from the public to benefit the sugar mafia, while the ruling class, in collaboration with the mafia, continued to exploit the people.

Instead of providing relief to the public, the government is favouring the sugar mill mafia, he added.

He said the Sharif family, in partnership with the sugar mafia, is allegedly looting the nation, while the national resources have suffered irreparable lossesfirst in the name of sugar export and then under the guise of sugar import.

He pointed out that those, who protested when sugar was priced at Rs110 per kilogram during Imran Khan`s tenure, are now silent as the current `fake` government had raised sugar prices to Rs200 per kilogram through collusion with the sugar mafia.

Barrister Saif accused the current government of abandoning the public to the mercy of the sugar mafia, while securing their own share of the profits. Bureau Report