SC moved for stay in auctioning of Bahria Town properties

ISLAMABAD: Bahria Town has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court (SC), challenging the Islamabad High Court’s recent decision regarding the auction of its properties.

The petition, filed through Advocate Farooq H. Naek, requests the apex court to overturn the high court’s ruling.

In the plea, Bahria Town has urged the court to halt the auction of its properties scheduled for August 7 until a verdict on the appeal is announced.

It is worth mentioning that the Islamabad High Court had earlier dismissed Bahria Town’s plea to stop the auction, prompting the management to approach the Supreme Court.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had earlier this year issued a public notice to auction six properties in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The move came after chairman Malik Riaz and his son Ali failed to pay the amount agreed upon under a plea bargain to settle the £190 million case.

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The IHC had initially halted the auction by issuing a stay order. However, last month, NAB approached the court, requesting the stay to be lifted so the auction process could proceed.

Among the properties listed for auction is the Bahria Town Corporate Office II, situated at Plot No. 7-D on Park Road in Phase II of Bahria Town, Rawalpindi. Another corporate office, located at Plot No. 7-E on the same road and phase, is also part of the auction. The list further includes Rubeish Marquee and Lawn, positioned in Bahria Garden City near the Garden City Golf Course in Islamabad. NAB also announced that the Arena Cinema, located on Plot No. 984-Broad-A in Phase IV of Bahria Town, Rawalpindi, will be auctioned. Additionally, Bahria Town International Academy, a school building near Jasmine Street and Silver Oaks Road in Safari Villas I, Rawalpindi, is also up for sale. Plot No. 27, which houses the Safari Club in the Safari Villas Phase of Bahria Town, Rawalpindi, is another property to be auctioned.

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