Dr Arsalan case: Riaz moves apex court for security protocol

Real estate magnate contends he has received life threats.

ISLAMABAD: Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz on Monday filed an application before the Supreme Court seeking security for himself after claiming that he had received multiple death threats.

In his application, he maintained that he was receiving death threats and requested the court to direct law enforcement agencies to provide him adequate security on his next date of hearing.

He alleged that some lawyers had threatened him on the last date of hearing and the media was also running a campaign against him. Consequently, he appealed to the court to provide him security during his appearance before the court on June, 21.

“I am a taxpayer and a respected real estate businessman and I should be provided foolproof security so I can reach the court on the next date of hearing,” the former chairman of Bahria Town said.

Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bani Amin told The Express Tribune that the Islamabad Police had not provided any security to him yet.“Not a single police official was deputed with Riaz,’’ he contended.

Earlier, the apex court took notice when Riaz – who alleged that the chief justice’s son took bribes from him to “buy off justice” in cases against him –appeared before the court with VVIP security. The court wrote to the IGP to explain the reasons why the real estate magnate and the central figure in Dr Arsalan Iftikhar’s suo moto case was provided with protocol when he first appeared in the court.

After receiving the letter, IGP Amin asked the deputy inspector general (DIG) to carry out the required inquiry and submit a report. In his report, the DIG maintained that enhanced security arrangements were made for Riaz at the directions of the Ministry of Interior.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2012.