KP drafts ordinance against hoarding, proposes three years in jail for stockpilers

PESHAWAR: A draft for an ordinance proposed to tackle hoarding amid the coronavirus crisis has been prepared by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa law ministry, with the document recommending three years in jail for those found involved in stockpiling.

According to the KP law ministry's draft, those involved in hoarding would also be liable to pay as fine 50% of the value of items recovered.

The informant would be rewarded 10% of the funds in the treasury, the document added, noting that a special magistrate would hear cases of hoarding. The special magistrate will be bound to rule on the cases under 30 days.

The proposed ordinance would be applicable on protective gear which includes medicines, surgical gloves, masks, and sanitisers, as well as on flour, vegetables, sugar, tea, rice, pulses, and various other items.

Speaking to Geo News, KP Law Minister Sultan Mohammad Khan said the ordinance was aimed at bringing illegal profiteers into the ambit of the law. It would be sent to the governor should it be passed in the cabinet, he added.

The minister added that the ordinance would be applicable on 32 items in total.