LHC rejects sugar mill owners' petition

Lahore High Court (LHC) has rejected the sugar mill owners petition seeking the stay order on the courts earlier orders of reducing sugar prices at Rs 40 per kg. Rejecting the appeal, LHC observed that the copies of the decision would be provided to the mill owners by tomorrow. The mill owners have decided to move the Supreme Court (SC). Sugar mill owners filed a petition to get the stay order against the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision which reduced the sugar prices. The negotiations between the sugar mill owners and the Punjab Government failed once again and the people couldnt get sugar at Rs 40 per kg as per the court orders. The talks between the government and mill owners remained inconclusive despite repeated efforts. Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister ringed Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilnai to discuss the sugar issue. The premier maintained Federal Government would fully cooperate with the Provincial Government to implement the courts decision in public interest. Conflicts cropped up between the Punjab government and the sugar mill owners after the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered to sell sugar at Rs 40 per Kg. The Punjab government deployed police at several sugar mills whereas mill owners refused to negotiate with the government. The sugar mill owners said that the Punjab government previously fixed sugar price at Rs 45/Kg without consulting them and when they were ready to sell it on that price, the LHC set the price at Rs 40/Kg without hearing their viewpoint. The mill owners had then announced to move court instead of talking to the Punjab government.