“Blackmail won’t work:” Malik Riaz reacts to NAB’s warning against his Dubai project

Property tycoon Malik Riaz voiced his frustration over a recent notice issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which  cautioned people against investing in Bahria Town’s Dubai project. “Doing business in Pakistan is not easy,” the real estate mogul said.

Taking to X, Malik Riaz accused NAB of employing blackmail tactics to pressure him into providing false testimony.

“I am restraining myself, but I am sitting with a storm in my heart. If this dam breaks, then everyone's facade will be shattered. Don’t forget that all the secrets of the last 25,30 years are safe with evidence,” he wrote in a scathing post.

Malik Riaz furthered on, "For a long time, people aspired to elevate the Pakistan brand to world-class status. I believe Allah Almighty has granted me the opportunity to contribute to this vision, and as a result, BT Properties has been established in Dubai.

"The secret of Dubai's development is the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the absence of an institution like NAB," he added.

Malik Riaz asserted that he cannot be manipulated against anyone else and that the "blackmail won't work."

NAB issued a press release on Tuesday, stating that Pakistan is in discussions with UAE authorities to bring Malik Riaz back to the country through legal channels.

“Mr Malik Riaz is residing in Dubai, UAE. He has recently launched a project for the construction of luxury apartments in Dubai, UAE. The general public is hereby advised and warned to refrain from investing in the stated project. If the general public invests in the stated project, their actions would tantamount to money laundering, for which they may face criminal/legal proceedings,” the statement read.

It pertinent to note that Malik Riaz and his son were declared absconders by the court in the Al-Qadir Trust case. In this case, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were handed prison sentences and heavy fines on January 12.

Read More: Imran Khan gets 14 years in prison, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 7 years in £190 million case

Since the verdict in the £190 million case, there have been growing calls for accountability of all accused, with many demanding that Malik Riaz also face trial.

NAB has already frozen several assets belonging to the property developer, including his Bahria Town project. The anti-corruption watchdog accused Malik Riaz of amassing wealth through "illegal," "deceptive" means and "cheating the public at large."

“He is using these lands for developing housing societies without obtaining mandatory regulatory permissions or no-objection certificates and has committed fraud against the state and the general public to the tune of billions of rupees,” NAB stated.

Previously, Malik Riaz  claimed that he was being pressured into serving political agendas. He stated that his resistance to such tactics had led to financial losses but vowed not to succumb to blackmail.