ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Thursday issued notices to Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Malik Riaz Chief Executive of Bahria Town and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a plea seeking compensation for the affectees of the DHA Valley housing project while seeking comments from respondents by June 15.
A single judge bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq issued notices after hearing the arguments presented by petitioner Riaz Hanif Rahi, president of Association for the Affectees of DHA Valley.
In the petition Rahi argued that "Rs62 billions were collected by DHA from public which were transmitted to the account of Bahria Town under invalid agreement and without any lawful authority." added that at the time of agreement, DHA and Bahria Town had no land to develop plots, they concealed the agreement from public and huge amount was transmitted into Bahria Town's account.
DHA Valley project was advertised in different newspapers on August 21, 2008, but the Joint Venture Agreement was signed between Bahria Town and DHA on August 16, 2008, and it was concealed from public while inviting booking of plots.
He said that three years time - August 2008 to August 2011 - for the deposit of payment in installments was granted to the successful applicants but the development work of the housing scheme has yet to launch as DHA and Bahria Town have so far failed to procure the land for the project.
Rahi said that "Rs62 billions were collected by DHA from public which were transmitted to the account of Bahria Town under invalid agreement and without any lawful authority." He added that at the time of agreement, DHA and Bahria Town had no land to develop plots, they concealed the agreement from public and huge amount was transmitted into Bahria Town's account.
"Criminal acts were played with 110,000 civilians, 41,000 serving and retired military officers, Jawans and families of martyrs," he stated. adding that the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif had green-lighted stern action against retired military officers and civilians involved in the DHA Valley scam.
Subsequently, three suspects, an ex-director project of DHA Col (retd) Sabahat Qadeer Butt, an ex-administrator of DHA Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal and the CEO of M/s Elysium Holdings Pakistan Ltd, Waseem Aslam, were arrested by the NAB and they are currently facing trial.
He said that the authority is not exempted from CDA laws but had never approached the civic body for the approval of layout plan. In addition, he said, fundamental rights of the petitioner and the allottees are being continuously infringed and the respondents have collected money from public without lawful authority.
He alleged that the DHA & Bahria Town committed willful breach of contract and cheated the public at large.
He has prayed the court to direct the respondents to arrange plots for affectees or pay back the prices under the prevalent market value. Also, he prayed the court to set-aside the joint venture agreement as it is based on fraud and carries no legal effect.
Moreover, he also requested the court to direct NAB authorities to freeze the accounts of Bahria Town as well as DHA and DHA Valley, recover the amount and distribute it to the affectees.
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