ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Saturday took notice of the use of‘Bahria’ brand name by the country’s largest real estate developers for itshousing projects.
Issuing a notice to Malik Riaz for August 2, Chief Justice of Pakistan(CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar also summoned the record in land grabbing casesagainst the Bahria Town pending in different courts.
The suo moto comes hours after the Bahria Town administration donated 42.6million to Diamer-Basha and Mohmand Damns Fund, initiated by the apex court.
Last month, hearing a review petition against the May 4 judgment of theapex court in which it had banned Bahria Town from selling any plot orconstructing apartments in its housing scheme in Karachi, a three-judge SCbench headed by the CJP ordered Malik Riaz to furnish in two weeks Rs5billion before the court to show his commitment to resolving the issuesrelating to the exchange of government lands for the development project.
The court also dropped hints to attach the property of Mr Riaz. But theBahria Town owner, who himself appeared before the court, requested it notto do so, saying that it could be used against him. He explained that heowned no property except one in the name of his wife.
The apex court also stopped the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) fromtaking any action against Bahria Town management or anyone who has beennamed in its judgment now under review.
The SC, in its order, had said as one of the judges who was part of thebench which announced the verdict has retired now and the other judge hasgiven a dissenting note in favour of the Bahria Town, a new five-memberbench will be constituted to hear the review petition.