Malik Riaz granted pre-arrest bail in land scam case
By: Jamal Khurshid
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday granted four-week pre-arrest protective bail to Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz Hussain in a land corruption case.
Malik Riaz Hussain, his son Ahmed Ali Riaz and Bahria town’s staff were booked for their alleged involvement in fraudulent transfer of 1,411 kanal land in Deh Malikpur, Azizal, Rawalpindi from private persons in connivance with revenue officials and deprived the real owners of their rights.
The anti-corruption court in Rawalpindi had issued non-bailable warrants against the Bahria Town owner, management and others for July 23 following submission of police investigation report regarding involvement of Bahria Town in fraudulent land transfer. To avoid arrest in the case, real estate tycoon appeared before Sindh High Court and sought two-month protective bail so that he could surrender before the trial court.
Applicant’s counsel Shaukat Hayat submitted that his client was involved in a false case of corruption at the behest of sitting MNA of the area and trial court had issued warrants for his arrest.
He contended that the applicant was facing difficulties in engaging lawyer and arranging proper legal assistance as despite his efforts no advocate of the area was willing to plead his case before the trial court concerned. The counsel submitted that eight-week protective bail might be granted to the applicant so that he could overcome the difficulties in this regard and surrender before the trial court.
SHC’s single bench headed by Justice Farooq Ali Channa without touching the merit of the case, granted four-week pre-arrest protective bail to the applicant with surety of Rs1 million. The court directed the applicant to approach the trial court within the stipulated time for further relief observing that order of the court would cease to effect on August 15 or on date when the applicant would approach the trial court.
The court also observed if the applicant failed to appear before the trial court within the stipulated time, the surety amount would be forfeited and deposited in government treasury after observing all formalities of the law.
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