Court in Pakistan rejects appeal by real estate corporation, allowing the auction of their properties to proceed.
In a significant move, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has auctioned six commercial properties linked to Bahria Town and its founder Malik Riaz Hussain to recover funds related to the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The auction, which took place on August 6, 2025, follows Malik Riaz's default on payments under a plea bargain agreement from 2019 and NAB's subsequent initiation of recovery through property auctions under the NAB Ordinance.
The properties up for auction included one in Islamabad and five in Rawalpindi. Out of the six, two were successfully sold, while three remained unsold due to a lack of qualifying bids, with plans for re-auction. The Rubaish Marquee Islamabad was sold for Rs508 million ($1.78 million), which is Rs20 million above its reserve price.
Bahria Town has contested the auction in court, claiming the proceedings are illegal and harming investor confidence. However, NAB asserts that the auction is a lawful recovery under Section 33E of the NAB Ordinance due to defaults.
The Al-Qadir Trust case involves a controversial £190 million settlement linked with Malik Riaz and former PM Imran Khan, involving allegations of corruption and misuse of funds returned from UK asset seizures. The case is being actively prosecuted by NAB.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has uncovered additional evidence of money laundering and illegal transactions in the Bahria Town corruption case, totaling over Rs1.12 billion. Allegations include attempts to destroy evidence and illicit use of facilities to hide financial crimes.
The government has warned of strict legal action if Malik Riaz and associates do not cooperate. The controversy is closely linked to the Al-Qadir Trust case, in which former prime minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison over the case.
NAB remains committed to transparent recovery of public funds and strict enforcement of accountability laws. The legal battles over auction legality continue alongside government efforts to expose and penalize corruption.
It is important to note that if convicted, the accused's properties will be confiscated. The decision on the stay order will be made after hearing the other side, according to Justice Aminuddin Khan.
This auction is part of a widening crackdown on Malik Riaz Hussain, once regarded as Pakistan's most influential businessman. Earlier this year, NAB warned the public against investing in Hussain's new real estate venture to build luxury apartments in Dubai.
The auctioned properties are part of a court-approved plea bargain tied to a £190 million settlement with Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA). Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has accused Hussain and Bahria Town of laundering billions of rupees, allegations they have yet to address publicly.
Hussain has stated that his bank accounts have been frozen, vehicles seized, and dozens of employees detained, forcing operations to a near standstill. Bahria Town's request to cancel the plea bargain arrangement and the NAB reference is pending before courts.
The chairman of Bahria Town has allegedly claimed political targeting linked to his refusal to join the Al-Qadir Trust case. However, authorities are seizing properties tied to various cases to recover dues.
In conclusion, the graft case is actively progressing with NAB enforcing asset auctions to recover public funds and FIA expanding investigation into financial crimes linked to Malik Riaz and Bahria Town. The legal battles over auction legality continue alongside government efforts to expose and penalize corruption.
- Despite Bahria Town's legal challenge, the auction of properties linked to Malik Riaz and his company, following alleged defaults, represents a significant step in the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) ongoing crackdown on corruption, reportedly including money laundering and illegal transactions.
- The Al-Qadir Trust case, involving Malik Riaz, former PM Imran Khan, and accusations of corruption, continues to unfold in the news, with the Federal Investigation Agency broadening its investigation and NAB's transparency efforts in the recovery of public funds gaining attention in the business sector.
