In November 2012, K-P lawmaker placed highest bids for three commercial plots. PHOTO: FILE
A Pakistan Peoples Party Senator from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa said he will challenge a Tuesday court order depriving him of three commercial plots for which he had offered the highest bid during a recent land auction.
In November 2012, Senator Haji Saifullah Khan Bangash offered the highest bids against three commercial plots during an open land auction organised by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The plots are in Sector G-11/3, Sector E-11’s Northern Strip, and Blue Area.
Later, Bangash submitted the down payment of 25 per cent of the total cost of all three plots to the CDA, but failed to pay the remaining instalments within the stipulated time, resulted in the cancellation.
Upon cancellation, Bangash moved the Islamabad High Court against the CDA’s decision. Later, during a hearing on October 24, IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui directed Bangash to deposit the remaining amount within 3 days, but Bangash failed to do so.
On October 28, no lawyer or representative for Bangash appeared before the court, which forced it to dismiss the case.
On October 30, CDA officials decided to include the cancelled commercial plots in a list of 47 plots the authority will be presenting for open auction scheduled on November 19 and 20.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Bangash said the remaining amount was not submitted as the CDA was not providing promised facilities including electricity and water at the plot in Sector E-11.
CDA officials were happy with the decision, saying the precedent set by the court would help clear hundreds of similar cases.
“Several investors are in a habit of launching unnecessary litigation after offering high bids during land auctions,” said a senior official of CDA’s estate management wing.
Millions of rupees against auctioned plots are tied up due to such litigation, where instead of submitting instalments, successful bidders move the courts.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2013.
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