[:en]By ASIM SHAHZAD
LAHORE: The government and opposition members censured the Rs417 per month lease of Gymkhana Club in Punjab Assembly.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan formed a two-member inquiry committee, refusing to accept the membership of the club.
“Today, we are standing on the verge of destruction, elites are not ready to change their attitude”, MPA Amjad Ali Javed said
It is not about one gymkhana, but the system of gymkhanas spread in Punjab, which occupies the resources, he added, Gymkhanas are being built on property worth trillions of rupees.
The speaker said the Constitution of Pakistan taught Pakistanis equality and thus the services provided by the gymkhana should be opened for the public.
He added the government land of the Gymkhana has been given on an annual contract for five thousand rupees.
Amjad Ali Javed is right in saying that if it is worth billions of rupees, it becomes a ransom, the speaker added.
Minister Mian Mujtba Shuja said around Rs1,600 contract was given to Gymkhana Club in 1913.
The total land that Gymkhana occupies is seventeen acres and seven kanals.
From 1960 to 2000, the land was given on a lease of 1,600 rupees. In 1996, Sardar Arif Nakai gave an annual lease of Rs5,000 rupees for the next fifty years.
The gymkhana clubs that are being established all over Punjab are being established with the approval of the provincial cabinet.
The Punjab Assembly speaker said how could the public land be used. He said that was the worst form of oppression.
“I am going to form a special committee on the issue of Lahore Gymkhana Club,” he added, instructing the Gymkhana Club report should be prepared and sent to the government in two weeks.
The Chenab Club Faisalabad will also be included in it, the speaker concluded.[:]