A bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) hearing petition against the auction notice of Bahria Town properties was dissolved before the scheduled proceedings. The case file has now been forwarded to Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar for further orders.
The case relates to the auction of several Bahria Town properties. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has already issued auction notices for five properties, with the auction scheduled to take place on July 7.
During the proceedings, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir reviewed the background of the matter. He noted that he had previously dealt with the case during an intra-court appeal.
The judge also asked whether a writ petition had been filed earlier in connection with the same dispute. Lawyers representing the petitioner confirmed that an earlier writ petition had already been decided by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar.
The NAB prosecutor informed the court that he was ready to assist if directed. He also responded to questions raised during the proceedings regarding the legal history of the matter.
While hearing petition arguments, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir asked about the status of the intra-court appeal. The NAB prosecutor replied that a related matter was currently pending before the Supreme Court.
According to the prosecutor, the Supreme Court case involves similar legal questions. He further stated that a division bench of the Islamabad High Court had already dismissed a related request.
The court was also informed that Yahya Afridi had recused himself from hearing the matter concerning the auction of Bahria Town properties.
After reviewing the circumstances, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir observed that the case should be placed before Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar. He noted that the Chief Justice had previously heard related proceedings and was available to hear the matter again.
The judge directed that the complete case file be sent to the Chief Justice for further action. He remarked that assigning the matter to the same judge who had earlier handled the case would be appropriate.
As a result, the bench hearing petition against the auction notice was dissolved before taking up the merits of the case. No ruling was issued regarding the legality of the auction during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, the auction process announced by NAB remains scheduled for July 7 unless a court order changes the situation. The bureau has issued notices covering five Bahria Town properties.
The legal proceedings continue as the case awaits further directions from the Chief Justice. The transfer of the file means the matter will now proceed before a different bench if assigned accordingly.
The latest development comes ahead of the planned auction date and adds another stage to the ongoing legal dispute over Bahria Town properties. The court’s decision to transfer the hearing petition reflects the importance of judicial continuity due to the Chief Justice’s earlier involvement in the matter.
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