The Supreme Court Wednesday reserved its verdict on Bahria Town’s offer to pay Rs 450 billion for the land it has occupied in Malir district of Karachi.
A three-member implementation bench of the apex court headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed reserved the verdict and remarked that the decision would be announced on March 21.
During the course of proceedings, counsel for Bahria Town Ali Zaffar offered to pay Rs 2.25 billion per month for the next five years. The rest of the amount will be paid in the next three years, he added.
He said his client is ready to pay Rs 20 billion as down payment and 30 per cent of the installments, whereas parks, zoo and a cinema have been offered as guarantee. The counsel also pleaded to the court to withdraw the cases being pursued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Bahria Town, and sought an exemption of taxes and fees for transfer of the land. Justice Azmat Saeed responded that the court will not be able to suspend the law for transfer of land, making it clear to the builder’s counsel that his client will have to pay the due taxes and government fees. The counsel for Malir Development Authority (MDA) also requested the court to withdraw cases against the government officials pertaining to Bahria Town.
Justice Azmat Saeed responded that the deal was being made with Bahria Town and not with the Sindh government. He also discouraged the impression that the Bahria Town’s offer will necessarily be accepted. The court had taken up implementation of its May 4, 2018, judgement in the case which held that the land granted to the MDA by the Sindh government, its exchange with the land of the Bahria Town, and anything done under the provisions of the Colonisation of Government Land Act, 1912, by the provincial government was illegal.
Published in Daily Times, March 14th 2019.
