One of Pakistan’s most famous names, Malik Riaz, has returned to the news. The property tycoon who owns Bahria Town has finally let go of a huge amount of money. Malik Riaz has just given property and cash worth 190 million pounds to UK investigators, who have made the State of Pakistan a party to the case.
The National Crime Agency’s official statement reads: “Settlement includes a UK property valued at approximately £50 million. The National Crime Agency has agreed on a settlement figure with a family that owns large property developments in Pakistan and elsewhere.
The £190 million settlement is the result of an investigation by the NCA into Malik Riaz Hussain, a Pakistani national, whose business is one of the biggest private-sector employers in Pakistan.
n August 2019 eight account freezing orders were secured at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in connection with funds totaling around £120 million. These followed an earlier freezing order in December 2018 linked to the same investigation for £20 million. All of the account freezing orders relate to money held in UK bank accounts.
The NCA has accepted a settlement offer in the region of £190 million which includes a UK property, 1 Hyde Park Place, London, W2 2LH, valued at approximately £50 million and all of the funds in the frozen accounts. The assets will be returned to the State of Pakistan. (3 December 2019)”.
Property sold to Malik Riaz by Hussain Nawaz
Furthermore, the property that has been submitted in the process is that of 1 Hyde Park. It is pertinent to add here that this was one of the properties named in the Panama Papers which Nawaz Sharif owned. Soon after the word got out, Hussain Nawaz had sold/given the property to Malik Riaz. However, today, the National Crime Agency secured nine freezing orders.
Riaz had recently paid a settlement of Rs. 450 billion to the State.
In addition, the freezing orders had the property of 1 Hyder Park Place sealed. The property is worth 50 million pounds alone. Additionally, the nine bank accounts hold a total cash amount of 120 million pounds. The assets will now be handed over to the State of Pakistan.
These are the same assets that PM Imran Khan and his cortege had targeted after the Panama Leaks. However, instead of Nawaz Sharif, the assets are being handed over to the State of Pakistan by Malik Riaz.
Moreover, the settlement comes as a result of the investigation done by NCA against Malik Riaz. This means the cases against Malik Riaz will close now. That is why the huge amount of settlement is being paid by the Bahria Town tycoon. Additionally, the decision comes as a huge win for the State of Pakistan.
