ISLAMABAD—Bahria Town on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court, challenging a short order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that allowed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to proceed with the auction of several properties linked to a plea bargain involving real estate tycoon Zain Malik.
Filed by senior counsel Farooq H. Naek on behalf of Bahria Town’s accounts and finance manager, Adnan Khurshied Babar, the petition argued that NAB’s move was unconstitutional, discriminatory, and legally flawed — violating Articles 4, 10A, 23, and 24 of the Constitution. It contended that NAB lacked the authority to unilaterally auction or dispose of mortgaged properties owned by a third-party surety without due legal process or adjudication by a competent forum.
Bahria Town Denies Role in Plea Bargain
Bahria Town asserted it was not a party to the plea bargain between NAB and Zain Malik — the son-in-law of Bahria Town chairman Malik Riaz. Nonetheless, NAB moved to seize and auction a number of properties pledged as collateral in the deal, which was approved by an accountability court in August 2020 under Section 25(b) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
The properties listed for auction include Media House Phase-I Rawalpindi, agricultural land at Mouza Mohra Noor, Bahria Town Corporate Offices I & II, Rubaish Marquee, Arena Cinema, Bahria Town International Academy, and Safari Club.
The petition maintained that the IHC and the accountability court had overstepped their jurisdiction and misread the legal record. It further cited Section 88 of the CrPC, which restricts the attachment of properties not owned by the accused or a proclaimed offender.
Protests by Indigenous Sindhi Communities and Nationalist Groups
The controversy surrounding Bahria Town is not limited to courtroom battles. The company’s massive land acquisition for its flagship Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) project — located on the outskirts of the city — has sparked sustained protests and resistance from indigenous Sindhi communities and nationalist groups.
Since the project’s expansion began, local villagers and Sindhi rights activists have accused Bahria Town of forcibly displacing indigenous populations, grabbing ancestral land, and destroying ecological zones. Protests have been held regularly across Sindh, including a major demonstration on June 6, 2021, which saw thousands gather at the entrance of Bahria Town Karachi to denounce what they called “corporate occupation” of native lands. The protest turned violent after clashes broke out and parts of Bahria Town’s gate infrastructure were set ablaze. Following the incident, police launched a crackdown on activists, detaining several leaders of Sindhi nationalist parties and human rights defenders.
Groups like Indigenous Rights Alliance, and Sindhi Nationalist political parties under the banner of Sindh Bachayo Committee (Save Sindh Committee) lead by Syed Jalal Mehood Shah, president of Sindh United Party have been at the forefront of the resistance, demanding accountability, restoration of land to its rightful owners, and a halt to the mega housing project. The protests have drawn support from civil society organizations, legal experts, and environmental activists who view the Bahria Town Karachi project as a symbol of unchecked real estate development at the expense of marginalized communities.
Money Laundering Allegations Surface
In a parallel development, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed on Wednesday that the government had obtained “incontrovertible evidence” of massive money laundering by Malik Riaz and his real estate empire. He stated that an inquiry by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) uncovered documents showing money laundering worth Rs1.12 billion, allegedly routed through institutions like Safari Hospital in Rawalpindi.
Background: Bahria Town and Malik Riaz
Bahria Town, established in the 1990s by Malik Riaz Hussain, has grown into Pakistan’s largest private real estate developer, known for introducing luxury gated communities and commercial hubs in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. While the company has received praise for its urban development model, it has repeatedly come under fire for controversial land deals, alleged encroachments, and political influence.
Malik Riaz, a well connected billionaire, remains a powerful but polarizing figure in Pakistan’s business landscape. In 2019, the Supreme Court accepted a historic Rs460 billion settlement from Bahria Town to resolve legal disputes over illegally acquired land in Karachi — a case that also sparked public outcry and raised questions over land rights and environmental degradation.
The current petition before the Supreme Court adds to the long list of legal and social battles Bahria Town faces as scrutiny intensifies over its practices, both in courtrooms and on the streets.
