Bahria Town (Pvt) Ltd Karachi has approached the Supreme Court, seeking to reassess the Rs460 billion agreement related to their land acquisition for the Malir Super Highway project. The motion was discussed in a session presided over by a three-judge bench, including Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, focusing on enforcing the court’s prior approval of the deal on March 21, 2019.
The Chief Justice questioned the functionality of the implementation bench, enlisting the assistance of Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Amir Rehman. Bahria Town’s representative, Salman Aslam Butt, argued that based on the 2019 approval, the company was obliged to pay Rs460 billion for 16,896 acres. However, they have only received legal possession of 11,747 acres, lacking 5,149 acres. Consequently, he advocated for a reassessment of the payable amount, considering the incomplete land handover.
Proceedings Detail Shortfall in Land Possession and Financial Discrepancies
The court queried why a contempt petition was not filed against the authorities responsible for the land shortfall. Justice Athar Minallah pointed out the judgment’s finality, and the Sindh advocate general requested additional time to prepare a concise statement. Notices were issued to entities that had fulfilled Bahria Town’s liability amount in the Supreme Court account.
The discussion revealed that Bahria Town deposited Rs65 billion towards its liability, prompting Justice Minallah to question the legal standing of the Supreme Court retaining the funds. The judges also suggested filing a separate petition concerning equal treatment in land acquisition in Karachi, highlighting the potential invocation of suo motu jurisdiction. The case has been adjourned until November 8.
