Prominent journalist Azaz Syed appeared on a private media channel on Wednesday, alleging that ex-intelligence chief Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum once met property tycoon Malik Riaz in Dubai to talk about providing testimony against former Premier Imran Khan in the 190 million-pound case, for which Khan was recently convicted.

 

“…There is no doubt that Malik Riaz is under pressure [to testify against Imran Khan]. Nadeem Anjum [former DG ISI] had gone to meet him in Dubai,” Azaz said in reply when asked whether Riaz was bearing pressure of testimony against former PM Imran Khan in the 190 million pounds case.

 

Riaz, following the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) press release on Tuesday against his Dubai-based project, took to X (formerly Twitter), warning, “NAB’s baseless press release today is actually a new blackmailing demand. I am holding back, but there is a storm within me. If this dam breaks, then everyone’s façade will shatter. Don’t forget that the secrets of the past 25–30 years are preserved along with evidence.”

 

Riaz stressed that he will neither be used against anyone nor will anyone blackmail him, adding, “My decision yesterday was the same as it is today: no matter how much oppression you inflict, I (Malik Riaz) will not testify.”

 

NAB on Tuesday cautioned the public against investing in Bahria Town’s new real estate project in Dubai, emphasising that the government was reaching out to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seek property tycoon Malik Riaz’s extradition through legal avenues. 

 

“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 at large is hereby advised and warned to refrain from investing in the stated project. If the general public at large invests in the stated project, their actions would tantamount to money laundering, for which they may face criminal/ legal proceedings,” the anti-corruption watchdog said in a press release carried by Radio Pakistan.

Azaz Syed further claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari had also played a role in attempting to convince Malik Riaz to testify against Imran Khan in the Al Qadir Trust case on one occasion. However, the development could not proceed, Syed said.

 

Syed alleged that following the orders of PM Shehbaz Sharif, Malik Riaz's name was recently removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) along with 300 politicians. “He was a free man; nobody stopped him, so he went abroad,” the journalist added.