LAHORE - The Supreme Court (SC) Friday ordered auction of 22 plots of Lahore Development Authority, which were earlier leased to oil companies/ petrol pumps on low prices and without an auction.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, passed the orders while hearing a suo motu notice against allotment of the plots, owned by LDA to petrol pumps at throwaway prices.
During the proceedings, the chief justice noted that the lease fee was Rs3,000 before it was increased to Rs15,000, adding that there was no shortage of interested parties for the land.
He directed LDA Director General (DG) Amna Imran Khan to present terms and conditions of the auction before the court on Saturday besides ordering for completing the auction process within 15 days after the approval of the terms and conditions.
The chief justice asked the LDA to submit the auction report to the court, reserving the right of the final decision. Occupants/ owners of petrol pumps were also present.
The chief justice had taken notice on an application, filed by one Abdullah Malik stating that the land was allotted at throwaway prices illegally that needed proper investigation.
Boxer protection plea disposed of
The Lahore High Court disposed of a petition seeking protection of former ‘encounter specialist’ Abid Boxer after he personally appeared in the court. Justice Muhammad Anwarul Haq was hearing the matter. Jaffar Rafi, father-in-law of Abid Boxer, had filed the petition for protection of his son in law, stating that he was brought from the UAE and was likely to be killed in any fake encounter. He had sought protection for his son-in-law.
Previously, the court directed the police authorities to produce boxer in the court. However, on Friday, boxer appeared in the court after which Justice Haq disposed of the petition. Later, talking to the reporters, Boxer said he had secured bails in all the cases he was booked in. Commenting on the present situation, he said it was the natural justice. He would prove his innocence before the court of law, he added.
