Graft investigation: I am not going to run away, says Malik Riaz

Malik Riaz appears before NAB JIT, gives some answers asks time to get more evidence. Notices for Dr Arsalan Iftikhar.

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: The Bahria Town chief Malik Riaz, who appeared before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Modnay, hit out at being declared a proclaimed offender by a Rawalpindi court.

An Anti-Corruption court initiated a process whereby Riaz would be termed a proclaimed offender in a case involving his son and seven others, accused of purchasing land through alleged forged documents and fake identities.

Express News reported that Riaz had lashed out saying that if he is to be declared a ‘proclaimed offender’, then he best be arrested, but the move, he warned, would not deter him and attempts to force him to ‘run’ will not work.

"The supreme court should hear the case in which have been declared a proclaimed offender and see for them selves whether there is any truth in it, or just another false case," Riaz urged before telling media persons that he already has bail in the case for which proclaimed offender proceedings were being initiated against him.

The tycoon of Bahria Town fame also reached out to the Supreme Court, asking the apex body to provide his son-in-law protection whereby he too could come and present his testimony in the Dr Arsalan Iftikhar case.

NAB JIT

Business magnet Malik Riaz appeared before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of NAB today and answered questions about the details given by him, in response to JIT’s questionnaire served on him during his last appearance, a release said.

Malik Riaz elaborated and explained some commercial transactions involving large amounts through which allegedly Dr Arslan Iftikhar Chaudhry obtained undue financial benefits from Malik Riaz and Bahria Town.

NAB said it will deeply examine the transactions brought on record. The material and information received from various banks and financial institutions is also being evaluated by financial experts and reports on various financial trails are being compiled.

Meanwhile, Malik Riaz  sought a further weeks time for submitting additional documentary evidence to substantiate his contentions.

The release said that the JIT has initiated an exercise to look into money laundering aspects associated with the case.

NAB also issued notices to Dr Arslan Iftikhar Chaudhry to appear in person later this week. Dr Faqir Hussain has also been summoned in his private capacity.

Becoming a proclaimed offender

Earlier on Monday, a special judge of the Anti-Corruption Court initiated the process of proclamation for Malik Riaz, his son and seven other accused in a case of purchasing land through alleged forged documents and fake identities.

The trial Judge Chaudhry Amir Muhammad Khan issued posters showing the owner of Bharia Town Malik Riaz, his son Ahmed Ali Riaz and others after they did not appear before the court despite repeated warrants for arrest were issued after summons and adjourned the hearing till September 3, 2012.

The court further directed the district coordination officer DCO Rawalpindi to collect the information about the movable and immovable properties of Riaz in Rawalpindi and submit a report to the court on next date of hearing.

The proclamation process started after the property tycoon failed to get favourable decision from the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench, against the arrest warrants issued by the trial court.

Malik Riaz, his employees and some revenue officials were being tried for transferring 1401 kanal land in the names of the property tycoon at Malikpur Azizal in the area of Rawat and his son allegedly using forged mutations, transfer letters and fake identities.

Riaz has denied allegations of fraud and says he was looted by the revenue officials and some middle men as he paid Rs85 million for purchase of the land in 2009.