TTAP asks CJP to take suo motu notice of sugar crisis

ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Monday wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to intervene in the “economic assault on our populace, particularly through the egregious manipulation within the sugar industry,” saying it is a matter of utmost urgency that demands the immediate and decisive intervention of the highest court.

The letter, titled -- ‘Urgent appeal for notice/ action against systemic policy manipulation in the sugar industry, robbing the public in a broad daylight’ -- has been written by former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, who is TTAP vice-chairman.

“We are writing to you today not as politicians, but as deeply concerned citizens of Pakistan, witnessing with profound anguish and relentless. The recent events surrounding the sugar crisis are a stark testament as to how entrenched interests exploit national policy for personal gain, at the direct expense of the common citizen,” reads the letter, a copy of which is available with The News.

They asked the CJP to take a a suo motu action and the matter may urgently be referred to the three member committee, or treated as a petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution for the formation of a commission to fix responsibility for policy manipulation and identify lapses in regulation.

A comprehensive and transparent investigation is imperative to “uncover the full extent of policy manipulation within the sugar industry” to identify all beneficiaries of these exploitative decisions, especially those from the ruling coalition who hold significant stakes in the sugar mills, and ensure strict accountability for those who have prioritised personal gain over national interest and public welfare.

“The future of our nation’s economic stability and the trust of its citizens in democratic governance depend on swift and resolute action,” the letter says. It pointed out that according to credible news reports a staggering 50 percent of sugar mills are owned by politicians, including prominent affiliates of the ruling PMLN coalition. This direct involvement of the political class, holding parliamentary seats, represents a profound conflict of interest and cements their “entrenched political clout.”

“This blending of political muscle and commercial interest has effectively entrenched a near-monopoly, enabling a calculated strategy to maximise gains for a privileged few. The Competition Commission of Pakistan had previously imposed penalties totaling Rs44 billion on 81 sugar mills in August 2021, underscoring a history of cartelisation and exploitative practices,” the TTAP leadership notes.

The letter says that this situation is a textbook example of ‘extractive institutions’ as described by Acemoglu and Robinson in ‘Why Nations Fail’, designed to “steer the economic rewards toward a relatively small elite”.

The crisis, it notes, mirrors how concentrated political power is used to create immense wealth for those who wield it, while the vast majority of Pakistanis suffer from inflation and a strained economy. As Acemoglu and Robinson contend, “poor countries are poor because those who have power make choices that create poverty. They get it wrong not by mistake or ignorance but on purpose.”

It was emphasised that the policy shifts in the sugar sector are not accidental; they are deliberate mechanisms, crafted by a politically connected elite, to extract wealth from the masses. These ‘extractive political institutions’ ensure the system works for the few, not the many.

“We have seen retail sugar prices surge to an unprecedented Rs200 per kilogram since January. This alarming increase is not a mere market fluctuation but a direct consequence of deliberate policy choices. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government, in a move that defies logic and public interest, first approved the export of 765,000 metric tonnes of sugar between July 2024 and May 2025, despite clear warnings of impending supply shortages. This decision allowed a select group of sugar barons to reap immense profits. Subsequently, when local prices skyrocketed, the government paradoxically approved the import of 500,000 metric tons of sugar, further facilitating the same beneficiaries through preferential tax treatment. The cabinet waived all duties and taxes on these imports. This tax exemption has rightly drawn the ire of the International Monetary Fund, clashing with loan conditions and exacerbating Pakistan’s fiscal strain. This export-import cycle, repeated over the past 24 months, unequivocally exposes the profound influence of the sugar industry over national policy. It raises serious questions about economic stewardship and, more critically, about who truly benefits from these decisions,” it stresses.

The letter makes it clear that the judiciary is the last bastion of hope for the common citizen when all other avenues of justice and accountability appear compromised. “We humbly appeal to you to take immediate notice of this grave matter,” it concludes.