Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has made a startling revelation, accusing real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and Bahria Town of involvement in large-scale money laundering. These claims add to the number of legal troubles Riaz is already facing, according to reports.

 

In a televised press statement, the information minister revealed that a raid conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) led to the discovery of documents he described as 'incontrovertible proof' of Malik Riaz and Bahria Town’s corruption. The evidence suggests that the real estate mogul was involved in a staggering Rs1.12 billion money laundering scheme.

 

According to details, the FIA raided Safari Hospital in Rawalpindi, which was being used as a front office for maintaining records and storing cash. The minister stated that Bahria Town staff present at the hospital attempted to “burn some of the records” when the FIA began its raid.

 

The hospital’s “ambulances were being used to transport the money and records” to avoid arousing the suspicion of authorities, the minister added.

 

During the raid, officers were able to link the two individuals present at the scene, who were running the hawala and hundi operation, to the chief financial officer of Bahria Town. The information minister alleged that Bahria Town’s senior leadership was operating a large-scale “money laundering racket through which amounts were being sent abroad”.

 

While the Rs1.12 billion money laundering scheme is already colossal, the information minister suggested the actual scale is even greater, stating, “there will be more amounts besides the Rs1.12bn that will come forth.”

 

According to the minister, the hospital was used to send billions of rupees out of the country, causing significant harm to Pakistan’s economy. The federal government is expected to continue its crackdown on money laundering schemes allegedly operated by Bahria Town, as the FIA reportedly has information on the individuals involved.

 

The information minister has urged all those implicated to “turn themselves in.” It merits a mention that neither Bahria Town nor Malik Riaz has responded to the minister’s statements.