Corruption charges: Capital police refuse to help arrest Malik Riaz
Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) accompanied by Civil Lines police, Rawalpindi officials returned empty-handed after Islamabad police reportedly refused to cooperate or aid them in the arrest of real estate tycoon Malik Riaz on Saturday.
A raiding party of ACE, headed by Rawalpindi Circle In-charge Tanveer Shahzad, went to Islamabad to arrest Malik Riaz after a trial court issued warrants for his arrest in a land scam case.
Upon reaching Riaz’s residence in G-6/3 they were intercepted by Islamabad police and told not to proceed.
An official of ACE, part of the raiding party, confided to The Express Tribune that they were restricted to Aabpara police station, and a police official told the ACE team that the arrest could not continue as they had not followed the required legal procedure to arrest Riaz from Islamabad.
A security team had also been provided to Riaz to counter any moves for his detention, including six personnel of the Anti-Terrorism Squad, according to sources.
When asked why the raiding party was stopped, an official from Islamabad police, requesting anonymity said: “Legally, the ACE officials cannot make the arrest in an area outside their jurisdiction. If they had to, they should have asked for the local police’s assistance.”
The incident sparked outrage amongst high-ups in the Islamabad Police. A source in the Aabpara police station told The Express Tribune that an FIR was lodged against the raiding party before their return to Rawalpindi. The Inspector General of Police suspended and transferred the SDPO City Liaqat Niazi and SHO Aabpara police station Khalid Awan on ‘negligence’.
Seven junior rank officials were also suspended on the same charges but all were later reinstated.
A special anti-corruption court in Rawalpindi had released warrants for the arrest of former Bahria Town owner on June 21 after his alleged involvement in purchase of 1,401 kanals of land in Rawat using fake identities and forged documents. ACE Director Rawalpindi Muhammad Khan Ranjah said they would inform the trial court about the efforts of the investigation agency and it was now up to the court to decide what legal step should be taken following the non-cooperation of the Islamabad police.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2012.
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Why to arrest Malik Riaz???? just because he is not among those who collect money from Pakistan for their future? He has the courage to give away the money in Allah's way... Is there any other person who has the same courage? Leave him! he is not one like you all bureaucrats, politicians and ALL THE RICH Man of Pakistan...
If I may say I have had the chance to come to this street that my relatives live on, and malik riaz does as well. and i am thoroughly disgusted with the whole state of affairs. There are about 29 other houses here but every day the ISB police has been interrogating those who live here and asking them where they are going - MR's games and the involved government is taking hostage of the streets we live on! Pathetic that such people are being protected by the police that we it's citizens are paying for out of our pockets!
What message is being sent out to the world. Does Pakistan have any future?
The way we understand Islamabad Police was on the right side of the fence, ACE needed to contact Islamabad Police n than go with them foe arrest. Its seems ACE approach was only a delaying tactics, wash their hands n get courts involved further.
Who would bell the Cat ?... Sad state of affairs for a country,where the criminal are protected by the law enforcers and the innocent citizens left to the mercy of the criminals !
Were the Red Warrants issued???
I have been saying this for years that Pakistan is a lawless country and the laws apply only to the common people in Pakistan.The corruption has seeped from the President and PM Houses down to the NA and even to the police stations. I thought the police is suppose to uphold the law and why Mr.Riaz is given security on tax payers money, he is a billionaire and should provide his own security.Mr.Riaz should turn himself in because sooner or later he will be arrested and humiliated with all his ill gotten money. If he has done what the court is saying and proven in the court then he must go to jail and spend some time there, this ill gotten money did not come without any consequences but he thinks by bribing the officials he could get away with it. Too bad he did not count on the judiciary.
@Mohammad: His case is under investigation by the government controlled organization, called National Accountability Bureau (NAB)! They have to yet finish their investigation and challan then submit to the court for trial !
I doubt they (NAB) would ever afford do that,because they know very well that Malik Riaz,his son and son-in-law would also be implicated and indicted.!
God Please save Pakistan from the corrupt rulers.
All thieves have gathered in Islamabad--there are bigger than Riaz sitting in well guarded buildings--they should all be taken to task irrespective of their status or immunity--God help Paksitan to get rid of all such culprits.
Law enforcement agencies serving the interests of ruling class
Riaz is a whistle blower, and the culprit is just enjoying normal life as he is 'Arsalan Iftikhar' the above the law. Everything in Pakistan is other way round!
Makes sense as Rehman Malik is in IN-CHARGE of the capital police.
Writ of the law does not apply in Islamabad, how do you expect it to apply in Waziristan?!
riaz must be punished the way he is a national culprit
a few ppl may get together against riaz but not somany from different areas and differnt cultures..why are such persons not brought to books for punishment to make them an eye opener for others
He has immunity without Constitutional immunity. Now if that's not immunity then nothing is.
what about Arsalan Iftikhar... is there any order issued to arrest him as well?
If police wont do the JOB perhaps the US marines will do it
dirty politics all over Pakistan
Islamabad is a federal territory under the control of the federal government of ppp.Why is ppp so interested in protecting malik riaz?
Who is going to arrest the Tycoon Riaz Malik? This is a million dollar question. Get help from the United Nations as this is out of jurisdiction of the Interpol.