SC summons Hayat Residency Hotel record

KARACHI: The Supreme Court Thursday directed the federal government to present record of giving Hayat Residency Hotel building built on the Railway land near PIDC to Aqeel Karim Dheedi on lease. The SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad, in a meeting discussed the issue of vacant building of Hayat Residency Hotel. On the question, the CJ was informed that the hotel building had been given to businessman Aqeel Karim on 99 years lease in 2003. On this, Railway officials said they were not competent to award lease on 99 years as the Railway could award lease for 5 years.

Haider Waheed Advocate told the court that the National Commodity Exchange will be set up at the building and the lease was given by the Private Commission and not the Pakistan Railway.

The CJ in his remarks said that there should be make a legal process in reconstruction of the abandoned building and directed Attorney General of Pakistan and the Advocate General Sindh to present record of the building in the court.