RAWALPINDI: A team from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), assisted by Rawalpindi police, conducted a raid on the offices of Bahria Town in Rawalpindi, according to officials familiar with the situation.
The raid, which took place on Tuesday, has not been officially acknowledged by NAB or other authorities, but some bureau officials confirmed the development anonymously.
NAB spokesperson Birj Lal stated he was unaware of the raid, noting, “The raid might have been conducted by NAB Rawalpindi, but I cannot confirm it.” Sources suggest that the objective of the raid was to seize records related to the Al Qadir Trust case. Malik Riaz, the owner of Bahria Town, and his son Ali Malik, both currently believed to be in the UAE, have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case by an accountability court.
Following the raid, Malik Riaz posted what appeared to be CCTV footage on X (formerly Twitter) showing men in plainclothes searching through shelves and drawers in an office. However, the authenticity of the footage and its connection to the Bahria Town offices could not be confirmed. Riaz reiterated on social media that he would not become an “approver” despite faced with “oppression.”
In a subsequent tweet, Riaz claimed the raid lasted for hours and alleged that nine of his employees were taken, along with office records and vehicles. He also stated that many Bahria Town properties and accounts were seized the previous month and called for the release of his staff and the return of the seized equipment.
Last week, Riaz posted a cryptic message on social media, expressing that he was under “pressure” to take a political stance and was facing financial losses, but he vowed not to be used as “pawn for political motives.”
