BTLK agrees to pay if land fairly assessed

MDA in written verification says only 12,237.5 acres of land is usable for BTLK development

ISLAMABAD:

Bahria Town (Pvt) Ltd Karachi (BTLK) on Wednesday said that they were ready to make payment related to a Rs460 billion deal if the value of land in district Malir was “reassessed fairly”.

A three-judge bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah heard the case.

Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz’s counsel Salman Aslam Butt appeared before the court.

During the hearing, the chief justice asked the lawyer whether they would make payment as per the agreement made under the decision.

The counsel responded that they were prepared to make the payment if the land's value was reevaluated.

He argued that Bahria Town had been unjustly treated by being charged more than the market price for the land. The counsel requested the Supreme Court to allocate the land in its entirety to BTLK.

It is worth mentioning that on November 6, the MDA had verified in writing in its CMA no 9436/2023 that the approval of the said project for 16,896 acres of land was with the outer limits out of which only 12,237.5 acres was usable for BTLK development while the rest of the land was reserved for utilities, goths, thoroughfares, right of way along with major roads, drains etc.

During the hearing, the chief justice asked whether the decision of the Supreme Court was above the law. Butt replied that the apex court could get the judgment implemented only under its original jurisdiction.

He said the law of the land and not the apex court’s verdict would prevail, adding that if the Constitution was seen, the decision of the Supreme Court was incorrect.

Justice Minallah remarked that the apex court’s decision was final and would be implemented.

The top court sought the details of the amount deposited by Bahria Town with it.

The court directed Bahria Town and MDA to submit report with evidence. It ordered the Sindh government and MDA to conduct survey of the land available with BTLK and sought a report in this regard on November 23 and adjourned the hearing of the case.

It is pertinent to mention here that the land was allotted to BTLK at a rate of Rs20.72 million per acre on lease for 99 years whereas other societies including the Defence Housing Authority were given land at a rate of Rs100,000 per acre.