Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police is extending undue favour to property mogul Malik Riaz Hussain, his son Ali Riaz Malik and the management of Bahria Town Private Limited in a recently registered land-grabbing case.

The case was registered by Bhara Kahu Police on the orders of Additional District and Session Judge (ADSJ) Sikandar Khan. The petition, seeking the registration of a case, was filed by a widow and her children, who are the residents of Phulgran, a village in the federal capital.

Following the court order, police registered the FIR on September 29 under sections 109, 341, 379, 427 and 447 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which deal with theft, wrongful restraint, mischief and criminal trespass.

However, contrary to prevailing practices in such criminal cases, the Islamabad Police is facilitating the accused. There has been no further development in the case so far.

Yasir Ali, the complainant, who is also an advocate by profession, strongly criticised the biased attitude of police officers dealing with the case. Talking to Daily Times, he said: “I wonder whether our police officers are public servants or on the pay roll of Malik Riaz. Instead of questioning him, they are even unwilling to listen to my grievances.”

“After registration of the FIR, I visited the police station on a number of times, but I have not been able to meet the investigation officer so far,” he said. “Our family has a total land measuring 18 kanals and nine marlas in the revenue estate of Pulgaran. It has been illegally occupied by the Bahria Town,” he said.

It is not the only land grabbing case filed against Malik Riaz Hussain. A number of similar cases are also pending against him.

Sources inside the Police Department said that usually after registration of any FIR, police called the nominated persons to join the investigation voluntarily. “If police feels necessary, it also conducts raids to arrest them,” they said.

When contacted, case investigation officer Inspector Muhammad Arshad accepted that he could not move forward in the case because of his continuous duties on the processions of Youm-e-Ashur.

“We are bound to obey the orders of respected courts. Soon I will call the complainant to present proof of land grabbing. Afterwards, I will personally meet the witnesses and general public to assess the authenticity of the allegations made by the complainant in his application,” he said.

However, when asked whether he would also question the accused, he did not give any answer.

The complainant said that police should take steps to fully investigate the case instead of favouring anyone.

Published in Daily Times, October 4^th 2017.