LAHORE, Nov 6: PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq has been served with a legal notice by a consortium of foreign and local investors and developers to tender an unconditional apology and retract allegations that the railway has illegally leased out to the company its land for 49 years to develop a golf & country club in Lahore.

The legal notice, served by Maxcorp Husnain Private Limited on Tuesday through its lawyers —- Mandviwala & Zafar Advocates, also demands that the PML-N leader must immediately pay Rs1 billion to the company as “compensation for the loss and damage suffered” by it as a direct result and consequence of allegations and defaming of its good name and business reputation in the eyes of public at large, local and foreign investors, MNCs, and multilateral donors and agencies.

Maxcorp Husnain is a consortium of developers from Malaysia as well as local contractors and consultant. It is involved in redesigning, developing, financing and operating activities of the former Pakistan Railway Club.

Mr Farooq had alleged in his statements that the communication minister had illegally granted the railway property on lease to the company.

The notice says the Pakistan Railways, before granting the lease, had intimated the public of its intention to lease out the property and in this regard it had received tenders from the prospective foreign investors. It was only after due consideration and taking into account the interest of the public and the railway that land was given on lease to the company having foreign investors and developers.