Malik Riaz can be best described as one of the many non-state actors that the Pakistani state is in a habit of partnering with. Be it Malik Riaz, Sipha-e-Sahaba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and others, these non-state actors have acquired greater nuisance value due to their linkage with the state, which they then in turn use and show off for enhancing their power even further. In all cases, these non-state actors develop such nuisance value that they begin to feel bigger than the state and try to capture parts of it, which ultimately results in greater collision or collusion.
While we may all get very upset with how the real estate tycoon has compromised the credibility of an important state institution, the fact is that he is a product of state patronage. Riaz’s journey from an ordinary clerk to a tycoon was made possible due to state actors who built the real estate magnate for their personal benefits. It was a reciprocal and mutually beneficial relationship in which the state actors used Riaz’s service for multiple tasks ranging from personal gratification, to cleaning up some of the political mess and taking care of some of the state’s critical problems.
In the first instance, Malik Riaz’s expertise as a land developer were used by the Bahria Foundation during the mid-1990s to develop two housing schemes in Lahore and Rawalpindi. The agreement allowed Riaz to use Bahria’s name and navy’s insignia to develop and market these schemes in which the Foundation had a 10 per cent share in partnership and 25 per cent share in total plots. There was also a provision for Riaz to buy out the Foundation’s share for Rs 100,000 per plot. Reportedly, Malik Riaz was also arrested during 1997-98 as the navy and the ISI conducted two inquiries into the alleged scam. Former naval chief Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari — and now head of NAB — claims that nothing adverse was found against Riaz during the two investigations.
However, despite what is claimed as a positive report, the Bahria Foundation ended the relationship in 2000 and sued the tycoon for continuing to use Bahria’s name and insignia for his housing scheme. The Supreme Court in 2001 disregarded this plea and allowed Riaz to use Bahria’s name on the grounds that since he had made heavy investment, which would be jeopardised if the name and insignia were removed, Riaz should be allowed to use the same. In 2006, Riaz’s Bahria Town, which had by then changed its insignia, entered into a partnership with the DHA with the intent for ‘seamless integration’ between the two entities. The question at this stage is not how it was made possible but who made it possible since Malik Riaz’s Bahria was in a habit of procuring services of senior military men. He would advertise in newspapers asking for retired senior military officers to apply for work in Bahria Town. Over the years, Riaz got on board a lot of military personnel including former ISPR head Maj-Gen. (retd) Shaukat Sultan. The tycoon was also known to provide plots in Bahria to senior police officials, media personnel, and other people. He also did favours for politicians. Over the years, Riaz provided job and financial security for many senior government functionaries. Since there is no free lunch, these perks had a price tag. To quote Malik Riaz, “everyone has a price and I pay it so my work doesn’t stop”.
As mentioned earlier, the state used him for bigger issues as well such as paying off certain people on its behalf to buy their silence. For instance, Riaz was used to console an angry Maulana Abdul Aziz and his wife Umme Hassan. He spent Rs 15 million to rebuild Lal Masjid and provide sanctuary to Madrassa Hafsa and the maulana’s family. Allegedly, Riaz was also asked to ‘take care of AQ Khan’.
There is always the possibility that he is still being used by the state. But then it is high time for the state to realise that subcontracting state functions and the state running to the non-state will always have tragic consequences.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (37)
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Unnecessarily negative in its tone. 'Friends of Pakistan' is a better descriptor. Some people are so great, due to their positive qualities, like Sir Professor Syed Hafeez, that their contributions begin to complement that of Pakistani state.
@Mahakaalchakra: Yes, slaves to others, and to their own egos.
Non-state actors are just an euphemism for ISI/army sponsored terror groups. Ayesha has done great work in exposing the army/ISI deep state of their nefarious acts and their role in stymieing the political, economic and ethical progress of Pakistan.
@Reza Ali:
...and politicians are/were as good slaves as those in deep state who planted them. For instance, Musharraf and Kayani are the architect of NRO, if not the author.
it is high time for the state to realize that subcontracting state functions and the state running to the non-state will always have tragic consequences
@Babloo: Yes my friend you are right - the judiciary is as good as the politicians that put them there, and it would be unfair to expect them to be any different from them - the daal is kaali indeed
@Reza Ali, No this does not appear "there is dal me kala" , in fact "the entire daal is kala" here.
Once again I will try - lets hope this one passes the censors: let us accept everything Ayesha Siddiqa says as being true but does it mean that (i) Arsalan is not the CJ's son who lives in the CJ's house?; (ii) Arsalan and the CJ's family did not go for a holiday to England in 2010 and 2011?; (iii) during the holiday Arsalan signed some contracts for which payments were made through someone else's credit card; (iv) prima facie there is no case for the the CJ to answer on behalf of his son and family? and (v) by the SC and CJ's antics, does it not appear that there is dal me kala?
Ultimately the state actors will silence him!
“everyone has a price and I pay it so my work doesn’t stop”....so true!
But it happens everywhere in the world. Corporates do serve state secretly. According to your piece Riaz should be called State's actor.
I miss Sami Shah. He would have had a novel 'take' on all this.
@Talha: Me too
Lesson: Generals retired or serving are root cause of problems.......
Making sense... I think, if MR feels threatened, he can reveal so much insights that will expose the real tycoons who made MR a tycoon.
To the point analysis about Malik Riaz or as Talat Hussain puts its "Riaz Thekaydaar" :P
With reference to "But then it is high time for the state to realise that subcontracting state functions and the state running to the non-state will always have tragic consequences"-
The question: who is running the state? The criminals-Top leadership is incompetent & convicted however it is accepted being democratic. The Ruling elite is enacting laws for their own benefit. How can they bring change? Losing lifes of 35,000 people in the war aganinst terror did this bring some change? Ofcourse NO..Situation is much worse now.
SO how to bring change? Thorough overhauling of the TOP LEADERSHIP
@Khan Jr
Yes, she does mean the 'state within a state' also known by some as 'the Deep State'.
What about non-state actor Journalists?
Non-State actors will always exist but we seem to have taken them out of the realm of COMIC OPERA and put then in the seat of govt. Can you recall the last time a High Govt.Official gave a responsible statement on behalf of the institution on the "state of affairs" in the nation? These statements are now the private preserve of NON-STATE ACTORS. The govt. it seems is too content to make money in kickbacks and to shipping them overseas asap.
good article.
What are you basing all this on? There are no citations of where you learnt this information. The "honorable court" would take action to make sure its earlier assertion that "nothing should be said in the media without proof" is upheld? Oh wait no, this is in the favor of the "honorable court"
Alright, thanks to you, now it is established that he is criminal. When do you plan to write you expose about the CJ's son. There are no holy cows here. All I see here is holier than thou attitudes with obvious biases.You got any answers ?
@Talha, You wrote "How do I apply for a non-state actor role?" My suggestion. Report to the nearest ISI recruitment centre and say that you want to fight the kafirs.
non-state actors : Back Office of the state.
Excellent and very accurate analysis based on facts. He is being used by the military once again to silence the chief Justice who was taking a very bold stance on missing persons case in Baluchistan.
@sk: If someone sells business with rights to the name then the buyer owns the name as well otherwise price, profit or loss will be different to the originally acquired property. You can buy a KFC or McDonald's but won't expect name to be changed as price of the name is paid unless specified.
Ms Siddiqa, you blame the "Pakistan State". Surely you mean an organ of the State. One that has been directly and indirectly ruling us for the past six decades.
Great expose on how not to run the state. Time for someone to come with a big broom and clean up the place. If it goes on longer, the country is doomed.
There cannot be a better analysis of Mali Riaz phenomenon than this one!
It's a pity that a whistle blower is under pressure and named as a criminal but as a matter of fact he is a self made man achieved what millions of other Pakistani nationals could not. It could have been an asset (if judiciary is free and not prejudice) and God sent help to our judiciary to unfold the layers of crime hidden under our elite's responsibilities while granting him immunity and digging and exposing the real criminals of this nation where nothing is done without favors. Please grant him immunity and get to the bottom of all our elite criminals.
I think other countries have a habit of using non-state actors as well (U.S. based defense contractors are a case in point). However, I agree that we have too many of those; so much so that state is nowhere to be found and non-state actors are to be found everywhere now.
well well well,as far as i knw and plz correct me if im wrong,no one can use names,insignias,uniforms or anything similar[milti julti] to that of armed forces,who allowed that,at that time the judiciary was tamed enough to give musharraf power to ammend the constitution,so it was all planned otherwise no one cud hv used that name and insignia if THEY wouldnt hv allowed that,and who made that tycoons and magnates.
This Op Ed is a great insight for people who do not know Malik Riaz and his modus operandi. The names of the schemes tell it all. In addition if Malik Riaz can have 9 retired generals under his thumb then he must be a real powerful man. The deep state has been backing the most corrupt and getting the benefits. There was a time the army officers were coming to the US and selling their housing schemes.
How do I apply for a non-state actor role?
I want to make money, money, yeah yeah.