SC rejects stay order plea against auction of Bahria Town properties

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday rejected the plea for a stay order against the auction of Bahria Town properties and has adjourned the hearing of the case until August 13.

The court directed the counsel to submit copies of the references filed against Bahria Town.

During the course of the hearing, Justice Aminuddin remarked that both main and miscellaneous petitions would be heard on August 13, adding that the decision on the stay order would not be one-sided and would be made after hearing the other party.

He noted that only a miscellaneous application was taken up today, while the main appeals were not fixed.

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Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan said that copies of the references should be attached with the appeals to determine the actual amount of embezzlement.

He stated that the accused had handed over eight properties to NAB under a plea bargain, but was now claiming the deal was made under pressure and not voluntarily.

The court was informed that the accused had submitted a request to the NAB chairman to cancel the plea bargain, bringing the case back to its initial stage.

Justice Afghan questioned how NAB moved towards the auction of properties after the plea bargain was withdrawn.

He added that now the trial on the references would proceed, and properties could only be confiscated if a conviction was secured.

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.