KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has allowed the builder of the Fazaia Housing Scheme to travel aboard for treatment.

The SHC also directed Tanveer Ahmed of M/s Maxim Properties to execute a personal bond of Rs2 million before the nazir of the court.

The applicant, through his lawyer, moved the SHC seeking permission to visit the United States for treatment of his heart and kidney ailments between Aug 1 and Oct 15.

The counsel argued that the applicant had never breached the terms and always returned to the country within stipulated time.

Order says builder has paid over Rs15bn to affectees and Rs462m claim is still pending

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro observed that the matter was at the investigation stage and a settlement process was going on.

“More than Rs15 billion has been given to the affectees as confirmed by the investigating officer and special prosecutor of National Accountability Bureau while a claim of Rs462 million is still pending, but the security filed by the applicant with NAB worth more than Rs2 billion was lying and as and when claimants file applications for compensation, the claim would be satisfied from the said amount,” it added.

The bench in its order stated that in view of such facts, the special prosecutor for NAB and IO had submitted that any appropriate order might be passed.

“Accordingly, in view of what has been stated above, the application is allowed and respondent No.2 [Tanveer Ahmed] is permitted to travel to USA from the period mentioned above,” it added.

In May 2020, the SHC had allowed the Directorate of Estate Projects, Pakistan Air Force, and builders to settle all the liabilities of the Fazaia Housing Scheme and refund the amount to the allottees within six months.

While releasing the builders, the SHC had also directed the NAB chairman to suspend the investigation into this matter and supervise and facilitate both sides to fulfil their agreements and ensure that all the affected people were paid in full within the shortest period of time.

The builders — Tanveer Ahmed and Bilal Tanveer — had entered into a joint venture agreement with the PAF directorate in 2015 to create the Fazaia Housing Scheme, Karachi and members of the public were given an opportunity to apply for plots.

A large number of people paid substantial amounts in respect of such plots. However, in January 2020, NAB had arrested the builders for allegedly depriving the public of around Rs13bn through investments in the scheme.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2022