Advocate Zulfikar Khalid Maluka, appearing as publico probono (in public interest), told the court that the properties sold to EOBI by DHA allegedly belonged to the DHA itself.

He explained that the total land handed over to the DHA by the CDA on June 22, 2007 was 1,937 kanals and nine marlas. The area measuring 321 kanals, which is the subject of EOBI scam, is part of that land which was never acquired by DHA.

Land measuring 1,937 kanals and nine marlas was allegedly exchanged between CDA and DHA on the condition that the housing authority would develop 482 plots of one kanal each.

No one knows for certain, Mr Maluka said, whether CDA got the developed plots from the DHA or not.

But DHA and its partners certainly became rich after selling 321 kanals to EOBI out of 1,937 kanals and nine marlas.

Mr Maluka insisted that the entire transaction between the CDA and the DHA was in sheer violation of CDA land and planning rules.