SC bars construction on 5,786 acres of Bahria Town’s land

• Court says Malir Development Authority illegally allotted the land to Bahria Town; Malik Riaz says construction activity will continue uninterrupted in Bahria Town Karachi

A two-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday restrained Bahria Town from undertaking any development activity on 5,786 acres of its land in Karachi.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Mushir Alam in its interim order ruled that the land was illegally allotted to Bahria Town by the officials of Malir Development Authority (MDA).

The court directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) authorities to complete their investigation and obtain google earth maps or images of the entire land stated to be in possession of the Bahria Town and submit it before the court for record within two months. The court also restrained the Sindh government from allotting any further land to Bahria Town.

The court restricted the Board of Revenue of the government of Sindh from dealing with the land of Malir Development Authority with immediate effect.

Reacting to the court’s order, Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz insisted that the construction activity will continue uninterrupted in Bahria Town Karachi.

“Misreporting of facts regarding Bahria Town Karachi is absolutely malicious. SC didn’t put any restrictions on development work by the Bahria Town,” Malik Riaz tweeted.

“Bahria Town will continue all construction-related activities on the consolidated land of 9,385 acres. Twisted facts are product of cynical minds,” another tweet said.

“We have been facing this mafia from day one and will continue to do so to safeguard development and investment in Pakistan,” he added.

The courts in its interim order said:

“The Bahria Town is restrained from undertaking any development activity in the area demarcated with green colour with black lines on it measuring 244.925 acres and or to deal with this portion of land with any person or organisation in any manner whatsoever.”

The court also specified another 386.276 acres of land, 1975.059 acres of land, 410.444 acres and 2771.779 acres of land, most of which has not been consolidated by the MDA, where Bahria town has been barred from undertaking any development activity. The court restricted the real estate giant from dealing with these portions “in any manner whatsoever”.

The MDA has also been restrained from consolidating any further portion of the private land of the Bahria Town or any other private enterprise in the garb of exchange of land in exercise of their powers conferred on them under the MDA Act.

“We further restrict the Board of Revenue of the government of Sindh from dealing with the land of MDA or any other authority which is subject-matter of these proceedings in any manner whatsoever in defiance of the order of this court,” the SC order read.