Fresh References
The matter of occupation of 17000 acres of government land in Karachi by Bahria Town, NAB has filed a reference in the Accountability Bureau, Karachi. NAB reference has been filed against Malik Riaz and Ali Riaz. NAB has also filed a reference against five frontmen. In the reference, it was said that by occupying government land, loss of billions of rupees has been caused to the national treasury. Only 24 billion of the settlement of 460 billion has been deposited in the Supreme Court.
The allegation that has been made is that a loss of 708 billion 8 crores 80 lakhs 83 thousand rupees has been caused to the national treasury. As if Malik Riaz himself stole from the national treasury but was actually assisted by the government departments and everyone played their part in providing illegal land to Bahria Town in return for handsome offers by Malik Riaz. The case is suppressed a dozen times but whenever Malik Riaz holds the bribe amount the government officials become active along with the media for more benefits.
History Of References
It is not the first time that Malik Riaz is feeling the pressure from the government authorities. Since the first Bahria Town, his alliance with government departments for grabbing land is notorious. From Rawalpindi land grabbing to New Murree case, al-qadir trust case or whether it is Bahria Town Karachi, Malik Riaz has always managed to make his way out because he always has something to offer to everyone in the process. Politicians, media houses, Bureaucrats, Military, everyone gets a chunk and that has muted criticism against him for a very long time.
What’s Getting Wrong?
Things went bad when Bahria Town Rawalpindi offices were raided by NAB post al-qadir trust controversies. Imran Khan had been a pain for the whole of the establishment and his case concerning al-qadir trust became crucial for ongoing power struggle. Malik Riaz was also involved in the case and was also depicted a villain like in many other cases, but the base of disagreements between Malik Riaz and the establishments escalated from there on. Since then notable steps were taken against Bahria Town including past cases investigation and raiding there offices and now government is actually notifying people to identify if they were crooked by Bahria Town so there complaints can be solved.
It is not the goodwill of the establishment but their revenge after the al-qadir trust controversy. The raids eventually added pressure and Malik Riaz is smart enough to sense danger, as Pakistani Establishment is the most untrustworthy and hypocrite alliance that one could count on, as the past record suggests. Even though Malik Riaz is undoubtedly the highest bribery payer in history of Pakistan and that is a huge milestone to achieve in Pakistan where everyone is involved in such activities. Things this time are serious, and it seems Malik Riaz has had enough, and it was a real blow when he moved out to Dubai where he was welcomed. Soon after his announcements in Dubai, Pakistani agencies have also launched offensive warning people of legal consequences for investing in his projects in Dubai. Well priority here is not getting justice and getting hold of the culprit but ego, power and control factors most important in our society.