KARACHI, Dec 26: The Supreme Court vacated on Monday an interim stay order against award of a shopping mall construction contract by the Defence Housing Authority to a London-based company.

The petitioners moved the Supreme Court after dismissal of their petition by a high court appellate bench on December 8. M/s Mall Developers challenged the DHA decision to award contract of the multi-billion-rupee project M/a Global Haly investment and Echo West International alleging that authority had initially agreed to sign a contract with the petitioner but later changed its mind in deviation from the terms and conditions advertised by it for the bid. They accused the authority of favouritism and nepotism in awarding the Contract, claiming that they were the highest financial bidders with best technical score as compared with the rival firm.

A two-member SC bench comprising Justices Abdul Hameed Dogar and Saiyed Saeed Ashhad adjourned the hearing of the case due to non-appearance of the petitioners’ counsel and vacated the interim stay earlier granted in their favour.