Business tycoon Malik Riaz loses 'Bahria' brand name

Riaz’s legal adviser says after examining court's detailed verdict, Bahria Town will file an appeal


Fawad Ali March 28, 2015
Riaz’s legal adviser says after examining court's detailed verdict, Bahria Town will file an appeal. PHOTO COURTESY: PAKISTAN TODAY

RAWALPINDI: A district court ruled on Saturday in favour of Bahria Foundation and ordered property tycoon Malik Riaz to pay Rs388.13 million as compensation to damages after the latter lost a legal battle over the right to the name ‘Bahria’ for his housing society.

The Bahria Foundation had filed a suit against the business tycoon demanding Rs688.83 million as compensation but the court in its judgment fixed Rs388 million apart from Rs15,000 fine as court fees to be given to plaintiff ( Bahria Foundation).

A court in Rawalpindi accepted the petition of naval subsidiary Bahria Foundation to restrain business tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain’s from using the name ‘Bahria’ for his housing society.

The court handed down a verdict in the case filed against the magnate in 2002.

According to the judgment of Civil Judge Nadiatuz Zehra "claim of plaintiff for recovery of damages of Rs100 million as damages for deliberate and malicious misuse of name of name of Bahria Town/Bahria Foundation is hereby decreed in his favour."

Besides, the judgement said, "Claim of plaintiff for recovery of Rs187.13 million with interest till realisation of bank rate is hereby decreed in his favour."

However, the court didn't accept plaintiff's claim for recovery of amount to the tune of Rs300 million for irreparable loss of trust and reputation is dismissed. The judgment said that the plaintiff is entitled for cost of suit.

In 1996, Hussain Global - on behalf of Riaz - entered into an agreement with the Bahria Foundation to set up Asia's largest private housing society, Bahria Town.

Read: Bahria Town Karachi: Balloting held for plots at Midway Commercial

Two years later, the naval subsidiary told the business tycoon to stop using naval nomenclature for his housing society and the two parties signed an agreement in this regard.

However, in 2002, a case was registered against Riaz by the Bahria Foundation.

In response, the business tycoon levied allegations that he was forced to sign the agreement and obtained a stay order by the court.

"We never pressurised Malik to use his name," Bahria Foundation counsel Sheikh Khizer Rashid told The Express Tribune while refuting the allegations levelled by Riaz.

Presently, Bahria Town has establishments in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Murree and Karachi. The project has received an overwhelming response from people all over the country.

Read: Bahria Town Karachi: Projects received overwhelming response

COMMENTS (12)

Tariq Nawaz | 9 years ago | Reply He gifted a palatial house to Zardari in Lahore.....
Ali Adnan | 9 years ago | Reply Malik Riaz is not worried cause he has already milked the cows.
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