LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought written replies from the occupants/owners of petrol pumps established on the land of Lahore Development Authority (LDA), which they allegedly got at throwaway prices and without auction.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing a suo motu case against allotment of 25 plots owned by LDA to petrol pumps at throwaway prices.

Earlier, the owners of the pumps including senior journalist Mujeebur Rehman Shami appeared before the court. Punjab caretaker law minister Zia Haider Rizvi, deputy commissioner Anwarul Haq, LDA Director General Amina Imran Khan were also present in the court.

Mr Shami said he had been subjected to character assassination as if he owned six petrol pumps in the city. He said he came to the court to seek justice.

However, Chief Justice Nisar told Mr Shami that it was a court of law and also advised him to avoid politicising the issue. “If a probe is ordered many facts would be unveiled,” the chief justice added. Mr Shami said it seemed that the court had some grudge against him.

However, the chief justice rebuffed his claim and said the court did not nurse grudge against anyone.

CJP Nisar reminded Mr Shami that he had tried to approach the court in PTV chairman Ataul Haq Qasmi’s appointment case. “You can be put to a contempt of court notice,” the chief justice warned Mr Shami.

The chief justice expressed his dismay when learnt that most of the precious land of the government had been leased out to the petrol pumps owners on Rs15,000 per year. He lamented that the government failed to protect its land.

The caretaker law minister told the court that a committee had been constituted to hold a detailed inquiry into the matter.

The chief justice directed the minister to hold a meeting of the committee and submit a report by Friday (today). He also directed the pumps’ owners to file their written replies.

The chief justice had taken notice on an application filed by Abdullah Malik stating that the land was allotted at throwaway prices illegally that needed proper investigation.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2018