NAB to launch hunt for sugar and flour mafia

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to launch an operation against the sugar and flour mafia, sources said on Monday.

The country’s major anti-corruption watchdog will not act as a silent spectator when all state organs are busy with battling a deadly bug while the flour and sugar racketeers go on rampage, the sources said

They added panicked by deadly coronavirus, the nation will not be left in the lurch. NAB is mulling over all the legal aspects to launch a comprehensive campaign against the hoarders, the sources maintained.

Such statements started pouring a couple of weeks ago after Prime Minister Imran Khan issued back-to-back warnings to the money-making mafia for a few weeks ago.

The PM sought a forensic report on April 25 after the Federal Investigation Bureau reported involvement of key ruling allies including Jehangir Tareen and Khusroo Bakhtiyar in profiteering.

Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak and other ministers too pointed to sugar smuggling and embezzlement in subsidy on import.

Last week, President Arif Alvi signed into law an amended ordinance to lasso profiteers and hoarders. The amended law ‘empowers’ price control officials to bring to book the profiteers quickly. It promises reward for informer and keeping secrecy.

It reads: “Any dealer found hoarding any of the 32 consumer items mentioned in the ordinance shall be guilty of an offence punishable with simple imprisonment up to three years and fine equivalent to 50 per cent of the value of the scheduled articles involved in the case.” The government will punish shopkeepers and vendors found involved in overcharging over tea, milk, sugar, milk, food for infants, eggs, bottled water, fruit, juices, vegetables, insecticides, poultry medicines, sanitiser, pulses, kerosene, wheat, matchboxes, masks etc.