Lahore – Lahore High Court Justice Azmat Saeed on Friday extended the stay order till February 15 against the demolition/sealing off of 18 petrol pumps and CNG stations located in the city, as LDA sought time to file a written reply. Pakistan State Oil and different companies have moved petitions against the cancellation of their lease agreement, sealing and demolition of the structures. They pleaded that they had established petrol pumps and CNG stations on the land owned by LDA.
They pointed out that according to the law; lease granted by LDA was to be extended periodically for three years for a total of 33 years. They argued that in view of the section 4 of the Disposal of Land by Development Authorities Regulations Act of 1998, such right of extension vests in favour of the lessee. They argued that period of extensions perceived in the said law had not been exhausted, therefore, the lease cannot be terminated or site auctioned as threatened nor the same sealed or demolished.
