Daily Times

As the UK court of appeal upheld a Home Office decision of cancelling 10-year multiple-entry visit visas of Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz and his son, different circles are questioning the rationale of not invoking the same principles against convicted PML-N supreme leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s stay in London.

The UK court judgement noted that the Home Office’s conclusion that Malik Riaz and his son Ahmed Ali Riaz had been involved with corruption and financial/commercial misconduct was founded on their involvement in the affairs of Bahria Town.

The Home Office’s decision to cancel their 10-year multiple entry visa was taken after the top immigration body considered the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) investigation and settlement of £190 million with Malik Riaz in 2019; Supreme Court’s judgements concerning Bahria Town in May 2018 and March 2019; a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report probing money deposited by Bahria Town into fake accounts and a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference filed in April 2019 linking Bahria Town to an investigation into Karachi Land Developments.

However, considering the very principles, the people in Pakistan are questioning the “double standards” of the UK system to punish one party while allowing Nawaz Sharif to live freely there who was also convicted for corruption.

“What hypocrisy! Convicted criminal Nawaz Sharif is happily living in the UK but Malik Riaz and his son are not allowed to stay in the UK. I protest to the UK govt. against this discrimination,” said a Twitter user, Maheen Brown.

The Twitterati believed that the reason behind judgment against the real estate tycoon was that he had most of his investments in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif is allowed to live there freely because he had invested billions of dollars in the UK economy.

Khawar Qureshi said that Malik Riaz cannot enter England anymore as a UK court has decided that “he might” be involved in money laundering. “But UK will allow Nawaz Sharif to stay because “he definitely” is involved in money laundering. Moral: You have to be proven money launder to stay.”

In a case, instigated by the Panama Papers, the court had disqualified Nawaz Sharif as prime minister over corruption and money laundering charges and banned him from parliament for life. However, after getting bail on medical grounds, the PML-N leader flew to London for his treatment in November 2019, in what his political opponents say was just a tactic to avoid criminal cases against him in Pakistan.

In December last year, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had also declared Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender in two cases – Avenfield properties and Al-Azizia reference.

“UK court rejects visa of accused Malik Riaz and his son Ali Riaz on corruption case but a convicted criminal Nawaz Sharif is still living in London freely. Why this double standard?” questioned AH Farooqui on Twitter.

Another netizen Me Abdullah drew some different analysis and said, “Maybe Malik Riaz is not so important for UK govt like Nawaz Sharif & Ishaq Dar otherwise both these characters are million times more corrupt & king of money launderers.”

He said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had branded Nawaz Sharif as Sicilian Mafia.

Hina Safdar also drew attention towards Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain facing multiple criminal charges in Pakistan and also staying in the UK for years with no action against him. “Malik Riaz is corrupt & cannot stay in UK but Nawaz Sharif Crook & The Gangster Altaf Bhai can,” she commented.

“I would still accept Malik Riaz. His wealth is in Pakistan and he is doing business in Pakistan, on the other hand, the famous thief Nawaz Sharif looted Pakistan and has all the money in the UK,” said another user Zabi.

Zabi opined that Malik Riaz wouldn’t have got his visa denied if he had kept his money in the UK.