Bahria Town case: SC orders Malik Riaz to deposit Rs5 billion

Also asks him to submit an affidavit along with recommendations

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz to deposit Rs5 billion within two weeks in a case related to the property tycoon’s housing project in Karachi.

A three-judge SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, also directed Riaz to submit an affidavit along with recommendations and to appear before the court also on Wednesday (today).

During the hearing on Tuesday, the CJP asked Bahria Town chairman to keep in mind his afterlife as Riaz enumerated his contributions that have ‘transformed a third world country into a first world state’.

“Bahria Town provides uninterrupted electricity to its residents; it has the third biggest mosque; has several educational institutions, old-age homes, leisure points and a world-class hospital.

“A city that was infested with Kalashnikovs has been turned into an epitome of developmental projects,” Riaz said in a reference to Karachi.

Riaz appealed that the court should restrain from passing a verdict that would affect its employees, adding that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has already cleared the housing society.

He requested the court to stop NAB from further investigation until a verdict is out. “On Monday, several residents of Bahria Town pleaded me to save the investments they have made into the housing society,” he added.

The court later directed Malik Riaz to submit an affidavit along with recommendations and to appear before the bench on Wednesday (today).