• The mills through its secretary had filed a writ petition against the department for not issuing it an NOC.
• The mills through a counsel submitted that the excise department delayed the certificate on political grounds at the behest of the provincial government.
• He pointed out that at least 12 NOCs had been given to the mills in the past.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for resuming functioning of Ramzan Sugar Mills, owned by the sons of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The mills through its secretary had filed a writ petition against the department for not issuing it an NOC.

The mills through a counsel submitted that the excise department delayed the certificate on political grounds at the behest of the provincial government.

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He pointed out that at least 12 NOCs had been given to the mills in the past. He said the deputy commissioner concerned issued the NOC but the excise department was delaying the same.

The counsel said the crushing season was about to start soon and the mills would face a huge financial loss if the NOC was not issued to it without further delay.

A law officer on behalf of the excise department had pleaded before the court that the reason behind not issuing the NOC was criminal cases pending against the shareholders of the mills.

He said a clean management in the private companies was the mandate of the law.

Anniuncing a reserved verdict, Justice Anwarul Haq Pannun allowed the petition and directed the department to issue the NOC to the mills.