Sugar cartel case reopened: Appellate Tribunal sends it back to CCP

The Appellate Tribunal has sent the high-profile Rs44 billion sugar cartel case back to the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), ordering it to re-decide the matter within 90 days, according to a 24NewsHD TV report.

In its ruling, the tribunal declared that the chairperson of the CCP cannot cast a deciding (casting) vote in judicial proceedings.

The tribunal noted that in the original 2021 decision, the fine was imposed after a 2-2 tie was broken by the CCP chairperson's casting vote, which tilted the balance in favour of penalising the Sugar Mills Association.

With the casting vote now ruled invalid, the previous decision reverts to a deadlock, meaning the case must be reheard and re-decided by the CCP without the chairperson's casting vote.

The Sugar Mills Association had challenged the CCP's decision in court, specifically objecting to the casting vote being used in such a high-stakes verdict. The Rs44 billion fine had been imposed on multiple sugar mills accused of cartelization and price fixing.

It is worth mentioning that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has unearthed shocking evidence of the sugar cartel's involvement in gambling, hoarding, and money laundering.

As reported by 24NewsHD TV on March 25, 2025, the FIA obtained damning evidence from 32 mobile phones and laptops, exposing major sugar groups' corrupt practices.

The cartel had been using fake accounts to launder Rs110 billion while conspiring to manipulate sugar prices, especially during Ramazan, to maximise profit.

According to FIA insiders, the group would create artificial shortages to drive prices up, which jumped from Rs70 to Rs90 per kilogram within a year.

In response, FIA Lahore has formed 20 special teams to launch a massive crackdown, with arrests to follow under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

The report also highlighted that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had vowed in 2024 to curb the sugar mafia’s ability to manipulate the market—but the cartel's “moneymaking spree” allegedly continued unchecked until now.

Reporter: Waqas Azeem