The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file separate references on a series of matters stemming from the Bahria Town Karachi project, including the arrears of three Malir Development Authority (MDA) projects, media reports said.
A three-member implementation bench headed by Justice Azmat Saeed passed the orders while hearing the Bahria Town case.The court directed the corruption watchdog and other relevant departments to take action on the installation of illegal tube wells as well as payments made for sale and purchase of land.
The bench instructed NAB and others to also look into the K4 route issue and the outstanding payment of MDA’s three projects which amounts to Rs1.5 billion. “If the references are not filed and the court orders are not adhered to, action will be taken against NAB,” the court warned.
At the outset of the hearing, the counsel of plot allottees told the apex court that they were ready to pay whatever price the court would set. “If the price is ascertained, then the rate would be of 2019,” Justice Saeed made it clear.
Meanwhile, NAB furnished its report on the matter in the court, claiming that it has completed its inquiry and will now send a reference for approval. The NAB investigation officer apprised the court that Bahria Town, as per the 2012 survey report, had held 12,156 acres of land but the area currently in its possession has reached 25,601 acres. The court noted that 7,220 acres of land was illegally transferred to Bahria Town in 2015, adding that the real estate developer claims that it has not illegally acquired the said land. The Supreme Court bench ordered the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies to recover the said land before adjourning the case until January 15.
Published in Daily Times, January 10th 2019.
