SC rules fresh grant of state land to Bahria Town

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ruled that the government land could be granted to Bahria Town in Karachi afresh by the Board of Revenue under the provisions of Colonisation of Government Lands Act 1912 (COGLA 1912)

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justcie Ejaz Afzal Khan and comprising Justice Maqbool Baqir and Justice Fasial Arab announced the judgment in a matter wherein it was alleged Malir Development Authority (MDA) was adjusting the government land pursuant to the notifications issued by the Board of Revenue, Sindh.

It was alleged that the value of the government land was far higher than the value of the private land it was exchanged for. 

The majority judgment authored by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan ruled that since a great deal of work has been done by the Bahria Town and a third-party interest has been created in favour of hundreds of allotees, the land could be granted to the Bahria Town afresh by the Board of Revenue under the provisions of COGLA 1912.

The verdict ruled that the terms of conditions of grant as well as the price of land will be determined by the implementation bench of the apex court. “We, therefore, request the Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan to constitute a bench for the implementation of this judgement in its letter and spirit,” says the judgment