Bahria Town plea: Police register case against blackmailers on court order

Malik Riaz had filed an application that a group of extortionists was threatening him

ISLAMABAD: Police have registered criminal cases against extortionists who were demanding Rs50 million from Malik Riaz and threatening him of dire consequences if he did not pay up.

An additional district and sessions judge on Monday directed the SHO at the Lohi Bher police station to register a criminal case against blackmailers as per the application filed by Bahria Town CEO Malik Riaz.

The application filed on July 22 was sent to the legal branch of the police which replied that as per the stance taken by the complainant, cases should be registered under sections 344, 388 and 506.

Read: Face-off: Malik Riaz exposes gang of extortionists

Therefore acting on a court order and the advice of the legal branch, the Lohi Bher police booked Lt Col (retd) Dr Shafiqur Rehman and Khalid Rasheed, a dishonourably discharged colonel from the army. SHO Lohi Bher Fiaz Tanoli told Daily Express that the accused will be arrested and tried according to the law.

Malik Riaz’s personal staff officer Lt Col (retd) Khalilur Rehman had filed a petition under section 22-A (6) seeking direction from the court for registration of a criminal case against the proposed accused. Advocate Babar Awan represented the petitioner.

During the hearing, Khalil maintained that Lt Col (retd) Tariq Kamal and his accomplices had been blackmailing Bahria Town. The court was also informed of how, on June 28, 2013, Tariq Kamal came to Bahria Town’s corporate office and extorted Rs50 million from Malik Riaz. CCTV footage of the incident was available, Khalil said.

The petitioner further said that on July 7, Kamal had threatened that if he was not given Rs50 million, he would injure the business interests of Bahria Town and involve it in false cases.

Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan said that it is evident that prima facie, police have reached a conclusion that offences under section 384, 506/109 PPC have been committed, “but they (police) have not registered the case despite the fact that offence under Section 388 is prima facie made out.”

The Section 388 of Pakistan Penal Code attracts punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment for extortion by putting victims in fear of an accusation.

Read: Malik Riaz to unmask ‘blackmailers’

“Furthermore, criminal intimidation has been given with respect to injury to reputation of Bahria Town chairman and his institution…which is a cognisable offence,” the judge noted in his order.

“SHO Lohi Bher is directed to register the case against the proposed accused and carry out investigations honestly, impartially and in accordance with the law,” the order said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2015.