The Lahore High Court on Thursday declared a joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe sugar mills in the light of the Sugar Inquiry Commission null and void.
A bench issued the order while hearing a petition filed by Al-Arabia Sugar Mills of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif's family and the Faruki Pulp Mills of Jahangir Tareen, challenging inquiries by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The high court also declared the notices issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to the sugar mills.
In short order, the bench remarked that the SECP had failed to comply with legal jurisdiction. It added that an elaboration about FIA's jurisdiction will be given in a detailed verdict.
In the petitions, the sugar mills have nominated the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), FIA Director General Wajid Zia, the Ministry of Interior and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar as respondents.
The petitioners said that the federal cabinet ordered authorities to launch a crackdown against sugar mills. It argued that the federal cabinet has no power to declare some culprit.
It was also claimed that Mirza Shahzad Akbar later illegally ordered the
SECP and the FIA to launch the investigation against their sugar mills.

Khaqan Abbasi to be indicted in LNG reference on Nov 16

An accountability court in Islamabad has decided to indict former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the LNG terminal reference on November 16.
Others named in the case include former finance minister Miftah Ismail and former PSO MD Imranul Haq.
The court has also summoned former OGRA chairperson Uzma Adil and Abbasi's son Abdullah Khaqan and former SSGS MD Muhammad Amin for indictment.
The case of two foreigners Philip Natman and Shina Sadiq will be heard separately, the court said.
Abbasi's lawyer said that NAB has claimed that the project is still running in a loss. "How can a person be indicted in a case that is still ongoing?"
The judge said that Abbasi will be provided with all documents before the
indictment.
Abbasi, who served as the PM from August 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018, after the
disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, has been accused of awarding the LNG
Terminal-1 contract in a non-transparent way.
The reference was filed on August 6.
the NAB claimed that from 2013 to 2017, unexplained deposits of Rs1.4 billion
and Rs1.2 billion were made to Abbasi and his son's bank accounts.
Abbasi has claimed that he is being politically victimised by the NAB. He hasn't
submitted his formal reply in the case as the reference is still being evaluated.–INP