Imran Khan, Malik Riaz, and Gen Asim Munir; Umar Cheema reveals what went wrong between them

Renowned journalist Umar Cheema has alleged in a recent YouTube vlog that the then DG-ISI Lt Gen Asim Munir was removed from the spy agency’s top post in 2019 after expressing grievances about property tycoon Malik Riaz to then-Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Cheema was referring to recent developments as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cautioned the public on Tuesday against investing in Bahria Town’s new real estate project in Dubai. It also added that the Pakistani government was reaching out to the United Arab Emirates to seek Malik Riaz’s extradition.

“Malik Riaz is the reason why then DG ISI Gen Asim Munir was transferred as Corps Commander Gujranwala and it was Malik Riaz that became the point of contention between Imran Khan and Gen Asim Munir,” claimed Umar Cheema.

Malik Riaz is co-accused in the infamous Al-Qadir Trust case in which Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were recently convicted with sentences of fourteen and ten years respectively.

Last year in May, Malik Riaz posted a cryptic social media post stating that he was facing “pressure” to take a political side but vowed not to be used as a “pawn for political motives”.

After the recent statement by NAB cautioning the public about Malik Riaz’s new real-estate project in Dubai, the property tycoon issued a strong statement on his social media handles, stating: “This was my decision yesterday and this is my decision today, no matter how much you oppress me, Malik Riaz will not testify!”

Malik Riaz in a long X post, yesterday, issued a mysterious warning: “Today's deplorable press release by NAB is actually a new demand for blackmail. I am resisting, but I am sitting with a storm in my heart. If this breaks, then everyone's illusion will be put into reality. Let's not forget that all the secrets of the last 25/30 years are safe with evidence.”

Journalist Umar Cheema while discussing the recent post by Malik Riaz, revealed: “Malik Riaz has a very interesting trade that throughout his life whenever he’s given something to any person, he brings it on record in front of a few people. He is famous for never keeping a secret.”

Cheema revealed the reason behind the controversy with Malik Riaz, stating: “The main problem is that Malik Riaz has sucked out maximum profits from real estate schemes in Pakistan. Now he isn’t as dependent on Pakistan given the new project starting in Dubai. What is worrisome for the agencies and the government is that people are shifting their capital to Dubai following Malik Riaz’s new project there.”

Cheema opined: “We used to hear about Pakistan’s capital shift towards Portugal, Saudia Arabia, Turkey and United Kingdom. In fact, I’ve personally investigated the UK properties and Pakistanis are in the top three property owners in the UK. Haider Naqvi reported a few days ago that security agencies of Pakistan collaborated in data integration with some of the countries mentioned and now whenever Pakistanis buy properties in these countries, it raises a flag among Pakistani authorities.”

Journalist Umar Cheema also claimed that those people who are investing in Malik Riaz’s Dubai project in have been warned by Pakistan’s security agencies.