Tag: MAlik Riaz

  • ‘Over my dead body’; Malik Riaz says won’t be pressurised

    ‘Over my dead body’; Malik Riaz says won’t be pressurised

    Bahria Town Chairman and real estate tycoon Malik Riaz on Sunday alleged that he was being immensely pressurised for “political motives” but will not bow down before anyone.

    In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Riaz wrote that there has been a “recurring pattern of victimization against me and my business for introducing state-of-the-art projects in Pakistan.”

    It should be noted that Malik Riaz did not name anyone despite complaining he was being pushed to the wall.

    Dawn News reported that it reached out to numerous political experts and politicians but “nearly everyone was reluctant to comment on his ‘sad tale’.”

    It is, however, widely believed that Riaz was referring to the Al Qadir Trust/University case, which was filed by NAB against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.

    The case alleges that PM Imran Khan and his spouse obtained land spread over hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd to legalise Rs50 billion, the same amount which was returned to Pakistan by UK authorities.

    Reacting to the tycoon’s statement, former president and PTI leader Arif Alvi asserted that the pressure cooker will ‘burst one of these days’.

  • Accountability court freezes bank accounts of Malik Riaz, PTI leaders in £190 million case

    Accountability court freezes bank accounts of Malik Riaz, PTI leaders in £190 million case

    An accountability court in Islamabad ordered on Tuesday that the bank accounts of property tycoon Malik Riaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Shahzad Akbar, Zulfi Bukhari, and Farah Gogi, be frozen in relation to the £190 million case.

    The Accountability Court has ordered to freeze the assets and bank accounts of six suspects in the said case.

    The accountability court has also ordered the seizure of vehicles registered in the name of the suspects , while also issuing permanent arrest warrants after declaring them absconders.

    On December 1, 2023, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a reference against PTI founder Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and others in the case of £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA), the UK.

    The reference from NAB, Rawalpindi, alleges that the accused individuals, in collaboration with each other, have engaged in acts of corruption and corrupt practices, as outlined and punishable under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) of 1999.

  • Corruption reference filed against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi

    Corruption reference filed against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a corruption reference against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and other suspects in the £190 million settlement case.

    The reference was submitted by NAB’s Deputy Prosecutor General Muzafar Abbasi and investigative officer Umar Nadeem in an accountability court in Islamabad, with the registrar’s office currently examining the document.

    Besides former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former First Lady Bushra Bibi, the reference names several other suspects, including Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI) leaders Zulfi Bukhari, Shahzad Akbar, lawyer Barrister Zia-ul-Mustafa Nazeer, and three others, totaling eight individuals.

    The filing of the reference comes days after the federal cabinet gave the go-ahead to conduct the jail trial of the PTI chairman in corruption cases.

    According to The News, the cabinet summary, moved by the Ministry of Law and Justice, was approved via circulation.

    The anti-graft watchdog had requested the ministry to allow the trial to be held in Adiala jail considering the law and order situation.
    The ministry had already issued a notification on the trial of the PTI chairman in the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA), UK, and Toshakhana case in prison.

    According to the notification issued by the ministry on Nov 28, the concerned accountability court will sit at and conduct the trial of the suspects in the Central Prison, Adiala.

    “The federal government is pleased to accord approval that the accountability court concerned shall sit and conduct the trial of the accused (PTI chairman and former PM) and others in Central Prison, Adiala, with reference to the case regarding misuse of authority/ illegal sale of gifted state assets, etc. under Section 16(b) of NAB Ordinance, 1999,” the notification said.

    The case

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, is currently embroiled in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry linked to a settlement between the PTI government and a prominent property tycoon, Malik Riaz. The case involves allegations of corruption amounting to billions of rupees and reportedly resulted in a loss of £190 million to the national exchequer.

    Adjustment of Funds:

    Imran Khan and other accused are charged with adjusting Rs50 billion (£190 million at the time) sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government. This fund adjustment is said to be part of an agreement with Malik Riaz.

    Undue Benefit and Land Acquisition:

    Khan and Bushra are accused of receiving undue benefits, including over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa. This land was allegedly obtained to establish Al Qadir University.

    Seizure of Assets in the UK:

    During the PTI government, the NCA seized assets worth £190 million from Malik Riaz in Britain. The NCA stated that these assets would be passed to the government of Pakistan.

    Approval of Settlement:

    Then-Prime Minister Imran Khan sought approval for the settlement with the UK crime agency from his cabinet on December 3, 2019, without disclosing the details of the confidential agreement. It was decided that the money would be submitted to the Supreme Court on behalf of Malik Riaz.

    Establishment of Al-Qadir Trust:

    Subsequently, the Al-Qadir Trust was established in Islamabad a few weeks after the PTI-led government approved the agreement with Malik Riaz. Notable figures such as Zulfi Bukhari, Babar Awan, Bushra Bibi, and her close friend Farah Khan were appointed as members of the trust.

    Land Transfer and Trust Ownership:

    Two to three months after the cabinet’s approval, Malik Riaz transferred 458 canals of land to Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide of the PTI chief, who later transferred it to the trust. Bukhari and Awan eventually opted out as trustees, and the trust is now registered in the names of Khan, Bushra Bibi, and Farah.

    NAB Investigation:

    NAB officials were initially probing the alleged misuse of powers in the recovery of “dirty money” received from the UK crime agency. Following the emergence of “irrefutable evidence,” the inquiry was converted into a full-fledged investigation.

  • Kya Malik Riaz ka interview Imran Khan ko muskhkil mein daal sakta hai?

    Kya Malik Riaz ka interview Imran Khan ko muskhkil mein daal sakta hai?

    Pakistan is watching a wave of interviews and the latest twist in this unfolding drama has been disclosed by senior journalist Javed Chaudhry in a recent vlog, hinting that Malik Riaz, a property tycoon, is poised to unravel a series of explosive revelations in the days to come.

    Javed Chaudhry’s vlog, providing a sneak peek into an upcoming interview with Malik Riaz, outlined three key points that are expected to rock the political landscape.

    First and foremost, the interview is anticipated to shed light on the staggering Rs460 billion penalty imposed on Bahria Town by the Supreme Court. Riaz is expected to reveal what Saqib Nisar got in return for favors. He will also delve into the details of the 460 billion rupees fiasco.

    Furthermore, the property tycoon is predicted to make startling claims regarding the 2014 protest, alleging that influential figures orchestrated the demonstration to unseat then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    The revelations will also cover how the sit-in was sponsored and from where and how food was provided.

    Riaz will also talk about why he advised Nawaz Sharif to leave the country for three months after his resignation.

    Riaz is also anticipated to discuss his role in preventing a collaborative effort between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif against Imran Khan, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that shaped Pakistan’s political landscape.

    Riaz will also openly talk about who played what role during Imran Khan’s government and how they all benefited from it.

    While specific details of the upcoming interview were not disclosed by Chaudhry, he expressed confidence that Malik Riaz’s revelations would be nothing short of bombshells, suggesting a turbulent period ahead for Pakistani politics.

  • ‘Speedy Builder’; Imran Khan is all praise for Malik Riaz

    ‘Speedy Builder’; Imran Khan is all praise for Malik Riaz

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has praised the building speed of controversial land tycoon Malik Riaz, during a televised address to his followers.

    Explaining the Al-Qadir university case to his followers on Wednesday, in which the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and his wife Bushra Bibi have been accused of accepting land in return for giving Riaz £190 pounds of state money, Imran Khan called the property baron, “the biggest builder in Pakistan.”

    Pointing out that Malik Riaz was already involved in Ravi City and a less-cost housing scheme, Imran Khan gave the reason for selecting the property tycoon for Al-Qadir university, a project for which Riaz gave them land and became a patron.

    “I asked Malik Riaz to do this project only because he is speedy and is the biggest builder of Pakistan,” he stated.

    “The work it took us 15 years to finish at NUML, Malik Riaz has finished at Al-Qadir in three years,” said Imran Khan, repeating once again that he is “the biggest builder”.

    The former Premier also revealed that it was Malik Riaz who offered to “sponsor” the entire project.

    Khan and his wife are both facing a probe at the National Accountability Bureau for giving Riaz £190 million, handed over by Riaz to British authorities after an investigation into “dirty money”, which were returned by United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency to Pakistan.

  • We cannot even take Malik Riaz’s name on TV: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif talked about tax evasion in the country on Wednesday and said that 500 billion tax evasion is taking place in the real estate sector.

    While giving a speech in the National Assembly, Asif said that from the real estate sector, people like Malik Riaz cannot even be named on television.

    He went on to say that Riaz is also involved in the £190 million case but we can not take his name.

    Former Prime (PM) minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are being questioned by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for aiding Malik Riaz in the settlement of £190 million seized by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency.
    Imran and Bushra Bibi are accused of receiving benefits from Malik Riaz by granting him the settlement of £190 million.

  • NAB summons real estate tycoon Malik Riaz to reveal £190 million settlement

    NAB summons real estate tycoon Malik Riaz to reveal £190 million settlement

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has asked real estate magnate Malik Riaz and close aides of PTI Chairman Imran Khan to appear before court on December 1 in a case relating to a £190 million (Rs50 billion) settlement.

    According to Profit, the owner of Bahria Town Malik Riaz was asked to appear before a joint investigation team of the anti-corruption watchdog on December 1 at 11 am at the bureau’s Rawalpindi headquarters, according to a NAB letter.

    “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 stated.

    It claimed that Ali Riaz Malik and others had entered into an out-of-court settlement agreement with Britain’s National Crime Agency for the repatriation of funds to the government of Pakistan following an investigation into allegations of abuse of power, financial gain, and criminal breach of trust.

    Imran and his wife were accused by Rana Sana Ullah of getting substantial amounts of land from Bahria Town property owners.

    Malik Riaz has been demanded to provide full records regarding the acquisition of 458 kanals in Tehsil Sohawa, the agreement by which Bahria Town donated land to Al Qadir Trust along with revenue documents, and information regarding any other property that he or any of his relatives transferred in favour of Al Qadir Trust or any of its trustees.

    Unverified reports claim that Imran Khan’s wife serves as one of the trustees. The real estate tycoon was informed that disobeying this notification could result in legal repercussions under NAO 1999.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah revealed a secret arrangement between the NCA and Malik Riaz’s family members (referred to as “the counter parties”) in June of this year.

    In order to defend the real estate company in a case involving money laundering, he had charged Imran Khan and his wife of collecting Rs5 billion and hundreds of kanals of land from Bahria Town.

    A £190 million settlement offer that includes a UK property, 1 Hyde Park Place, London, W2 2LH, was accepted by the NCA in December 2019. All of the money, which had a value of almost £50 million, ended up in Malik Riaz’s blocked accounts.

  • ‘Prove them traitors’: Bushra Bibi’s audio leak out

    ‘Prove them traitors’: Bushra Bibi’s audio leak out

    An alleged audio of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi has been leaked in which she is instructing Khan’s focal person for Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid to make a statement against Khan’s opponents and run a campaign to ‘prove them traitors’.

    In the alleged leaked audio, Bushra Bibi can be heard saying, “Khan Sahib told you to run a hashtag of treason. I have been getting calls from people that your social media was very active but after a week, it is not. You should have been very active nowadays.”

    She also allegedly said that Aleem Khan and others will talk filth about Khan, her friend Farah and her as well. “They will make so much fuss and they will also give testimonies of the people but you don’t have to make any issue of it just link them all with treason,” says Bushra Bibi.

    In the audio clip, Bushra can be reportedly heard instructing Khalid to build a narrative that all the PTI dissidents had joined foreign conspirators to save themselves.

    The former first lady allegedly asks Khalid to direct his team to take up the issue of the government not buying oil from Russia and link it with how Imran Khan was being betrayed.

    “You cannot let this matter die down,” Bushra Bibi allegedly says to him, asking him to make a trend so people know that the country and Khan are being betrayed.

    “I am only telling you this, you don’t have to discuss this issue with anyone. They are after him [Imran Khan] because of this. But you have to link it with treason,” she concludes.

    Responding to Bushra Bibi’s audio, PTI’s Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan condemned saying that is it unethical. He further said that there is nothing wrong in it if Bushra Bibi has linked conspiracy to treason.

    This is not the first time an audio clip has surfaced on social media involving Bushra Bibi.

    Earlier this month, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders played an audio tape between Bahria Town chief Malik Riaz and his daughter, revealing how allegedly Farah Gogi “demanded a gift” for former first lady Bushra Bibi.

  • Khan denies contacting Malik Riaz to patch up with Asif Zardari

    Khan denies contacting Malik Riaz to patch up with Asif Zardari

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan denied contacting property tycoon Malik Riaz for reconciliation with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

    Khan’s comments come in relevance to an alleged telephonic conversation that was leaked on social media. In the audio conversation, Malik Riaz can be heard saying that Khan wants a patch up with Zardari. Riaz said, “Aaj usnay bohot hee message kiye hain mujhe. [He sent many texts to me today.]” Zardari responds that it is “impossible” now.

    Khan’s denial came while speaking to digital journalists in Peshawar.

    Pressure to recognise Israel

    Khan revealed that when he was in power, there was “a lot of pressure” on his government to accept Isreal as a sovereign state.

    “We were sent a message that you should think about your country but at this time, I cannot reveal who had sent the message to us,” said Khan.

    Khan criticised the government and alleged that it was going to recognise Israel after a Pakistani expatriate delegation living in the United States (US) visited Israel.

    No need for PTI MNAs to verify their resignations

    On the matter of PTI members of the National Assembly’s (MNAs) resignations, Khan said they have resigned from their posts, and there was no need for them to verify their resignations.

    “We had announced in front of the National Assembly’s speaker that we have resigned. There is no need for a member to verify their resignation individually […] the day we come back to the assembly, it will mean that we have accepted this imported government,” said Khan.

    Only the army and the PTI can keep Pakistan intact

    Speaking about the appointment of the army chief, Khan said he did not know about the candidates nor did he think about the procedure. He claimed there were “individuals within institutions” who had “opinions on certain issues”. However, he did not name the individuals.

    “Only the army and the PTI can keep Pakistan intact,” he said.

  • Malik Riaz and son’s 10 years UK visit visa revoked due to possible corruption

    Malik Riaz and son’s 10 years UK visit visa revoked due to possible corruption

    United Kingdom (UK) courts have decided to revoke a 10-year multi-entry visit visa to real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, and his son Ahmed Ali Riaz.

    Lady Justice Nicolas Davies, in her judgment against the appeal of Riaz and his son, wrote, “Whilst there has not been a criminal conviction against you I am satisfied on probabilities that you have been involved with corruption and financial/commercial misconduct.”

    “As a result, having regard to the UK’s commitment to combat corruption and financial crime, I believe that your exclusion from the UK is conducive to the public good due to your conduct, character, and associations,” wrote Justice Nicolas.

    The UK High court on Malik Riaz case cited, “The appellants [Malik Riaz and Ahmed Ali] have been involved with corruption and financial/commercial misconduct was founded on their involvement in the affairs of a company, Bahria Town. The company is wholly owned and run by the appellant’s family and is described as the largest property developer in Asia. At all relevant times, Mr Malik was the Chairman of Bahria Town, Mr Ali was the CEO.”