Daily Times

The Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) on Friday has sealed Rose Cinema over violation of lease agreement.

Following the instructions by Punjab government local secretary, the state office of Municipal Corporation on Tuesday, issued a notice to the management of Rose Cinema and ordered them to submit a copy of allotment letter, approved map of the building, contract signed with MCR and other relevant documents within three days.

The management of the cinema failed to submit the required documents within the stipulated time period so the MCR had to seal its premises.

Sources privy to the development revealed that in 1924, the cinema was constructed by a Sikh but after the Partition of Indo Pak, the building of the cinema was awarded to Allauddin, in compensation of his cinema in India, on a lease of 20 years. As per law, the ownership of the property and building was transferred to MCR after the completion of the lease period.

Sources said, the lease agreement with Allauddin expired many years ago, but due to negligence of MCR officials, the lease was not renewed yet.

The lease holder Mian Farooq – son of late Allauddin, has illegally constructed four commercial shops in the cinema building, placed sign boards without any approval and have also sold 30 percent of the property to a citizen namely Malik Imran. An inquiry about the dispute between Mian Farooq and Malik Imran is pending in office of the secretary of local government, Punjab.

Sources revealed that the competent authority also does not have the valid lease agreement with the management of the cinema.

Despite repeated attempts, MCR Chief Officer Shafqat Raza could not be approached to get his version.

Published in Daily Times, September 1^st 2018.