LAHORE: The Lahore High Court is set to take up a challenge against the leasing out of a valuable piece of land to Lahore Gymkhana Club at a throwaway price.

Syed Usman, the petitioner, pleads that he being a law-abiding citizen and a taxpayer of the country has a right to agitate the matter as it is related to wastage of the public exchequer.

The public interest petition filed through Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada contends that the gymkhana was allocated a state land measuring 1,133-kanal one marla and 80 ft. in 1966.

It says the land is one of the most costly and commercial from all aspects and its auction can generate revenue for the state in billions of rupees on a monthly basis.

The petition says the club entered into a lease agreement in 1996, and the land in question was leased out to it for a period of 50 years for Rs5,000 per annum.

It argues that the club has been causing monthly loss to the public exchequer to the tune of billions of rupees, which is neither acceptable nor allowed in the eyes of law.

It says the respondents including the secretary colonies, commissioner and the deputy commissioner of Lahore have no authority to lease out the land to the club.

It alleges that more than 200 golf grounds in the country are being managed by the rich at the cost of poor citizens.

The petition asks the court to set aside the impugned lease agreement for being illegal, unlawful, and against the facts and the interest of the public at large.

Justice Shahid Karim would hear the petition on Wednesday (today).

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2023