I’ll never allow anyone to use me as a pawn for political motives,” says Bahria Town chairperson adamantly.
Real state tycoon and Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz siad that he was being pressurized for “political motives,” but firmly declared that he would not bow to anyone
In a message on X, formerly Twitter, the real estate mogul revealed that he was facing significant pressure and enduring constant business losses. However, he refrained from specifying who was exerting this pressure or for what reasons.
The real estate magnate, known for his extensive connections with political parties, the media, and both civil and military establishments, has historically been viewed as ‘untouchable’.
It is widely speculated that Malik Riaz was alluding to the Al Qadir Trust/University case, which was filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. The case revolves around alleged corruption amounting to £190 million, wherein Imran Khan and his spouse purportedly obtained land from Bahria Town Ltd to regularize Rs.50 billion.
On Jan 9, an accountability court froze the properties of five co-accused in the case, including Malik Riaz and his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, who were declared proclaimed offenders for evading investigations.
Currently believed to be out of the country, the real estate tycoon expressed, “All my life, Allah has guided me to uphold the principle of not aligning with any political faction or being exploited by one against another. Despite immense pressure over the past year, I refuse to be manipulated for political agendas.”
He claimed that such victimization against him and his business for introducing groundbreaking projects in Pakistan had been a recurring pattern. “From 1996 until today, I’ve faced repercussions for contributing to the nation’s progress. I’ve endured such pressures in the past with resilience. Even now, I say unequivocally, ‘over my dead body’.”
“Despite my current hardships, I stand resolute, enduring financial losses daily, but I will not yield to pressure tactics. Allah will guide me through this tough phase with dignity,” he affirmed.
In response to the mogul’s statement, former president and PTI leader Arif Alvi warned that the pressure cooker situation would eventually reach a breaking point. He emphasized that the brunt of the fallout would be borne by loyal Pakistanis who choose to remain in the country.