In a significant development, a team from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), accompanied by Rawalpindi police, raided the offices of Bahria Town in Rawalpindi. This action was reportedly aimed at confiscating records related to the Al Qadir Trust case, as confirmed by some officials from the accountability bureau who spoke on condition of anonymity.
NAB spokesperson Birj Lal stated he was unaware of the raid, suggesting it might have been conducted by NAB Rawalpindi, but could not confirm it officially. The purpose behind the raid was to seize documentation pertinent to the ongoing Al Qadir Trust case, in which Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz and his son Ali Malik have been declared proclaimed offenders by an accountability court. Both are currently said to be in the UAE.
Following the raid, Malik Riaz took to X (formerly Twitter) to post CCTV footage purportedly showing the raid, where several men in plainclothes were seen searching through office shelves and drawers. Although the authenticity of the footage as being from the Bahria Town offices could not be confirmed, Riaz emphasized on social media his refusal to become an “approver” despite facing “oppression.”
In a subsequent tweet, Riaz claimed that the raid lasted for hours, alleging that nine of his employees were taken away, and office records and vehicles were confiscated. He further asserted that many Bahria Town properties and accounts had been seized the previous month, and called on the government to release his staff and return the seized equipment.
This incident follows a cryptic social media post by Riaz last week, in which he complained about facing pressure to align politically and experiencing financial losses, but vowed not to be used as a “pawn for political motives.” This stance is somewhat unexpected for Riaz, who is known for his extensive connections with political parties, media, and Pakistan’s civil and military establishments.
Malik Riaz and his firm have a controversial history, frequently accused of using aggressive land acquisition tactics for their luxury real estate projects. They have also been involved in numerous court cases, including a recent Supreme Court order requiring Riaz to pay the amount owed to the Sindh government for land acquisition for Bahria Town Karachi.