Recently, Malik Riaz, a prominent real estate businessman in Pakistan, made a significant statement on social media: “I will not turn state witness.” This declaration has attracted attention due to its potential implications for the country’s political landscape. Malik Riaz is the owner of Bahria Town and has been named a fugitive in the Al-Qadir Trust case. This case involves former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. They are accused of acquiring vast tracts of land from Bahria Town Limited in exchange for legitimizing £190 million (approximately 50 billion PKR) identified by UK authorities, which was returned to Pakistan.
In this case, Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Malik Riaz, Ahmad Ali Riaz, and others have been implicated. On January 9 this year, an accountability court declared Malik Riaz, his son Ahmad Ali Riaz, and five other co-accused as absconders for not cooperating with the investigation. The court ordered the freezing of their assets in Pakistan.
Malik Riaz is known for his connections with political parties, the media, and both civil and military establishments in Pakistan. He is also seen as someone adept at navigating challenging situations. However, his recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has highlighted his ongoing issues with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He claimed that NAB officials raided the offices of his private housing society, Bahria Town Rawalpindi, to pressure him into becoming a state witness.
In his post, he wrote, “Malik Riaz will not turn state witness. Government machinery raided Bahria Town’s offices in Rawalpindi without any legal authority. After publicly declaring not to take sides in political power struggles, I am being subjected to open vandalism and persecution.”
He further alleged, “These raids lasted for hours, offices were vandalized, and security and staff were harassed. The raiding team took over 5,000 important project files, office records, 23 computers, network data, departmental cash, and nine vehicles.”
Riaz also claimed that these raids were part of a state-led effort to pressure Bahria Town under a political agenda. He demanded the immediate release of Bahria Town staff and the return of all confiscated documents and assets. He addressed his demands to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Ministry of Interior, and the heads of NAB and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
So far, NAB officials have not released a statement regarding the raids on Bahria Town Rawalpindi’s offices. Earlier, on May 26, Malik Riaz had tweeted about facing “political pressure” but vowed not to succumb.
It is believed that Malik Riaz is currently not in Pakistan and is residing abroad.
Background of the Al-Qadir Trust Case
The Al-Qadir Trust case centers around allegations that Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi received vast amounts of land from Bahria Town Limited in return for legitimizing a large sum of money returned to Pakistan by UK authorities. This money was identified as illicit wealth linked to Bahria Town and was handed back to Pakistan following an agreement between the UK and Pakistani governments.
Malik Riaz, as the owner of Bahria Town, is a key figure in this case. The accountability court’s decision to declare him and his associates as fugitives highlights the severity of the charges. The freezing of their assets aims to compel their cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Implications and Reactions
Malik Riaz’s refusal to turn state witness and his claims of harassment by NAB could have significant ramifications. His allegations suggest that state institutions may be used to exert political pressure, a claim that could deepen existing political tensions in Pakistan.
The public statements by Malik Riaz have prompted reactions from various quarters. Critics argue that his connections and influence may be shielding him from accountability, while supporters view his stance as a stand against misuse of state power for political gains.
Conclusion
Malik Riaz’s ongoing legal troubles and his refusal to cooperate as a state witness in the Al-Qadir Trust case underscore the complex interplay between business interests and political power in Pakistan. As the case progresses, it will likely continue to influence the country’s political dynamics and raise questions about the integrity of legal and political processes.