The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a request for an immediate stay on the auction of Bahria Town properties and directed that copies of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references against the housing developer be submitted.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the petition concerning the auction.

Advocate Farooq H. Naek, representing the petitioner, sought an immediate restraining order to stop the sale of Bahria Town assets.

Justice Aminuddin Khan rejected the plea for an instant stay, observing that the court would decide the matter after hearing all parties.

During the hearing, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that NAB reference copies should be attached to the appeals to clarify the exact scale of alleged embezzlement.

He noted that the accused had earlier entered into a plea bargain with NAB, handing over eight properties.

However, the accused later claimed the plea bargain was not voluntary but made under pressure.

Justice Afghan observed that once a plea bargain is cancelled, the case reverts to its original stage, meaning the accused must face trial on the references.

He questioned how NAB could proceed with an auction without a conviction, stressing that asset seizure could only follow a guilty verdict.

Farooq H. Naek said the plea bargain cancellation request and NAB references were both pending. The court ordered him to submit copies of the references against Malik Riaz and Bahria Town before the next hearing.

The case was adjourned until August 13, with Justice Aminuddin Khan stating that all main and miscellaneous petitions would be heard on that date.