RAWALPINDI: A group of affected buyers of Mall 35 Rawalpindi have staged a strong protest against Zameen.com, demanding immediate and unconditional possession of their paid commercial units, withdrawal of what they described as unclear escalation charges, fulfilment of rental commitments and a clear, workable timeline to make the project fully operational by December 2026.
Addressing a press conference at the Rawalpindi Press Club, affected buyers Aitzazul Hassan, Zakir Hussain, Syed Zahid Hussain, Hadia Nusrat and Muhammad Ijaz appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the commissioner and deputy commissioner Rawalpindi, the chief executive officer of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and the station commander to take immediate notice of the matter and provide justice to the buyers.
They demanded that all buyers who had cleared their dues should be given possession of their shops and kiosks without further conditions. They also called for an end to unjustified escalation charges and payment of promised rent in accordance with the agreements.
According to the buyers, Mall 35 is a joint project of Zameen.com, Zameen Developments and EBCO Constructions (Pvt) Ltd. The project was launched in 2019 and, under the agreements, was to be completed by November 2022. However, they said that until August 2026, several buyers had still not received possession of their shops and kiosks.
The buyers said they had invested their life savings in the project in the hope of getting timely possession and rental income, but prolonged delay had pushed them into serious financial difficulties and uncertainty.
They said the hotel apartments of Mall 35 had been operational since February 2025, while buyers of commercial shops and kiosks were still waiting for their keys. They said more than 100 affected families had joined the Mall 35 Buyers Collective Group to raise a joint voice for their legitimate rights.
The affected buyers alleged that some purchasers who had fully or substantially paid their instalments were later issued letters demanding heavy additional amounts under the head of escalation charges. According to them, such demands issued to only 13 members of their group amounted to more than Rs30 million in total, while individual additional demands ranged from Rs400,000 to Rs6 million.
They said no clear calculation, index or formula had been provided to justify these additional amounts. They claimed that, under their agreements, several buyers had already paid 85 to 90 per cent of the price, while some had also paid escalation and possession charges. Despite this, they said, they had neither been given possession of their units nor paid the rent promised to them.
The buyers further claimed that they had been informed of different conditions, timelines and contractual points at different stages and had also faced pressure to sign revised documents before possession.
They also expressed concern over taxes imposed on Mall 35 buyers, saying that taxes had been collected even from those who had not yet received possession of their units. According to them, heavy deductions had also been made from the rental income of hotel apartment owners under the head of tax.
They demanded that the nature, rate, legal basis and proof of deposit of every tax should be provided to the buyers and any unjustified amounts collected from them should be returned.
The buyers said Mall 35 had given written assurances regarding exclusive leasing rights and an expected minimum rental income of five per cent of the purchase price. However, they said, despite these written assurances, commitments regarding leasing and rent were not being implemented.
They said there were concerns that further delays, new financial or tax liabilities, fresh conditions for possession and secondary agreements could be used to limit the buyers’ existing rights.
The affected buyers demanded that the original agreements be respected and no buyer should be forced through secondary agreements to give up legal or contractual rights.
They appealed to the Punjab chief minister to take personal interest in resolving the issue. They also urged the deputy commissioner Rawalpindi, the CEO of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and the station commander Rawalpindi Cantonment to take immediate notice.
They said timely and fair resolution of the matter would not only provide relief to affected families but also help restore the confidence of overseas Pakistanis in investing in Pakistan.
The buyers warned that if the issue was not resolved, they would approach the Competition Commission of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau, the Federal Investigation Agency and other relevant forums. They said they would also seek investigations and legal action, if required.
The affected buyers maintained that all their claims were based on agreements, payment records, written correspondence and other documentary evidence in their possession, which they were ready to present before any competent authority.
