The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Karachi has filed a major reference against Bahria Town’s top leadership, including its owner Malik Riaz, his son Ali Riaz, and Zain Malik, along with 30 other individuals, over the illegal transfer of more than 17,000 acres of government land near the Super Highway.
According to NAB sources, the suspects are alleged to have been involved in the illegal allotment and transfer of land in 2013, causing a staggering loss of over Rs708 billion to the national exchequer. The reference implicates a wide range of individuals, including high-profile government officials and Bahria Town executives.
The NAB accountability court has issued notices to all the suspects, summoning them for a hearing scheduled on February 25.
Key accused in NAB reference:
- Malik Riaz (Bahria Town owner)
- Ali Riaz and Zain Malik (Bahria Town executives)
- Ahmed Bakhsh Narejo (Former senior member, Board of Revenue)
- Saqib Soomro (Former secretary, land utilization department)
- Javed Hanif (MQM MNA, former bureaucrat)
- Manzoor Qadir Kaka (Former director general, Sindh Building Control Authority)
- Agha Maqsood Abbas (Former head, Karachi Development Authority)
- Other Bahria Town officials, including Muhammad Awais, Wasim Riffat, Waqas Riffat, and Shahid Qureshi
- Mukhtiar Kar Tufeel Khaskheli, Sohail Memon, Assistant Commissioner Zaqbal Mirani, and Abdul Rehman Dahar
- Qazi Jan Muhammad (Former DC), Mukhtar Abro (Former AC)
The reference highlights that Bahria Town also violated assurances it had given to the Supreme Court. The apex court had earlier directed Bahria Town to deposit Rs460 billion as part of a settlement over similar land issues. However, the company has only deposited Rs24.26 billion so far, falling drastically short of the required Rs66.25 billion due during this period.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court had ordered the Sindh government to conduct a detailed land survey, which revealed discrepancies. According to the government’s report, Bahria Town possessed 16,931 acres instead of the claimed 16,986 acres, raising serious concerns about land acquisition practices.
