ISLAMABAD : June 23, 2023: For the first time in at least last three decades, Pakistan’s untouchable property tycoon , Malik Riaz of Bahria Town , has been summoned by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in £ 190 million (Rs 60 billion) financial scam on December 1.
According to a NAB letter, Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz has been asked to appear before a combined investigation team of the anti-corruption watchdog at 11am on Dec 1 at the bureau’s Rawalpindi headquarters.
“Call-up notice to the persons acquainted with facts of the case under section 19 of the National Accountability Ordinance-1999, inquiry against holders of public office and others qua misuse of authority, financial gains and criminal breach of trust in recovery of crime proceeds received from the UK and illegal sealing of its record,” the notice said.
It said the inquiry into allegations of misuse of authority, financial gains and criminal breach of trust had revealed that Ali Riaz Malik and others entered into an out-of-court settlement agreement with Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) for repatriation of funds to the government of Pakistan.
Malik Riaz is a super human being in Pakistan’s recent dirty history. He defrauded millions in Pakistan through fake allotments of plots and then turned into a Pakistan’s top money launderer.
Since Pakistan’s entire executive and judicial system is enrich with crooked corrupt nobody in any sphere of life could dare to summon Malik Riaz and question over his land grabbing and plundering of tens of billions of rupee.
Rather , name any agency or authority right from Pakistan’s top court to law enforcing agencies and anti graft bodies, every one pampered him to keep looting those in the name of Bahria housing who were shelterless or impressed by its media campaigns.
Its necessary to list Pakistan’s media role in this story as it is among top beneficiaries of ill-gotton money of Malik Riaz.
Malik Riaz’s money pours into every small and big media house of Pakistan with an exception of may be one or two regularly on monthly basis so no one in Pakistan’s media industry could ever pick to report anything that could even hint Malik Riaz and his Bahria Town in any murder or land grabbing case.
Pakistan’s media outlets get share from Malik Riaz according to their size and popularity . One can say, every watch dog including judiciary , executives, media and law enforcing agencies are beneficiaries of Malik Riaz’s plundered money.
Malik Riaz knows the art of buying and selling and he bids on the running horse. He picks up his man in every government . No political party or politician in Pakistan is out of his reach. Rather, top leadership of every political party loves to have relationship with Malik Riaz as he is prodigal in injecting money for each one of them whenever its required .
Secondly, political leaders with no exception in Pakistan need aero plane owned by Malik Riaz for joyful ride to Dubai and United Kingdom as well as airlift ill-gotton money to Dubai and other safe heavens.
Since Malik Riaz is known for ‘Service’ to every powerful political ruler , how could he stay away from Imran Khan to whom he had foreseen as a new ‘Revolutionary’ ruler much before his winning the elections in 2018.
To prove him as an obedient broker and wheeler, dealer Malik Riaz sponsored Imran Khan’s ‘Historic’ sit in Islamabad against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) rule in 2014.
Interestingly , Malik Riaz had equally close relationship with ‘Mian sahban’ whose new generation, particularly , Hamza Shahbaz was one of Malik Riaz’s close links and also a major beneficiary of his financial resources.
Malik Riaz got closer to Imran Khan when he came in power in 2018. It was his turn now to mint money with the support of PTI chairman.
As a shrewd and cunning money maker, Mallik Riaz built up a team comprising Shahzad Akbar, once the most powerful member of Imran Khan’s cabinet , Farah Gogi known close friend of Bushra Bibi who was basically a front lady of Imran Khan’s spouse and former first lady. You can see all these characters in every fraud committed by Malik Riaz and his Bahria Town in Imran Khan’s rule. Not only Bahria Town, but also a new housing project launched by daughter of this notorious property tycoon of Pakistan.
The same gang led by Bushra Bibi planned to divert £ 190 million (Rs 60 billion) to Malik Riaz’s outstanding amount against Karachi Bahria .
This ill- gotton money of Malik Riaz later caught by National Crime Agency (NCA) United Kingdom was to be transferred in the account of the State Bank of Pakistan as it was an ill-gptton money and surrendered to NCA by Malik Riaz and his family.
But since Imran Khan had unholy alliance with Malik Riaz, he used his office of the prime minister to give this money to him unlawfully.
Imran Khan got stamped unlawful transfer of £ 190 million to Malik Riaz from his cabinet. All members of his cabinet who attended the meeting which approved adjustment of Pakistan’s £ 190 million against outstanding of Malik Riaz’s Bahria Town Karachi are also co- partner to this crime .
The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) bench which approved adjustment of NCA transferred money against outstanding of Bahria Town Karachi are also part of the fraud that deprived Pakistan of its £ 190 million (Rs 60 billion).
Since it’s a very interesting case and it directly involves Imran Khan, his spouse , around two dozen elite of Pakistan, his cabinet, untouchable Malik Riaz and SCP bench it may be a big test for NAB.