ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: After deliberate delays of one month, the Bhara Kahu police finally registered a First Information Report (FIR) against property tycoon Malik Riaz in a land-grabbing case on Tuesday.

However, the police still omitted the name of his son Ali Riaz, who is also an accused in the same case.

The breakthrough came after Chief Justice IHC Iqbal Hameedur Rehman expressed his displeasure over the conduct of IGP Islamabad while hearing a contempt of court plea filed by Zahid Hussain Raja in the morning.

Back on November 15, 2012, the court had ordered the police to register an FIR in the land-grabbing case involving 100 kanals owned by Mr Zahid but the police failed to do so.

The petitioner moved a contempt of court plea through his counsel Raja Rizwan Abbasi on Monday. The IHC chief justice after hearing arguments of the counsel on Tuesday directed IGP Bani Amin Khan to appear before the court in an hour.

When the IGP appeared before the court, he assured the chief justice that he would produce a copy of the FIR against Malik Riaz, his son Ali Riaz and Dr Hafeez - the three accused - within an hour. However, an hour passed and there was no sign of the IGP on the court premises.

The conduct of IGP Khan annoyed the chief justice, who has summoned him again on Wednesday (today) for an explanation.

IHC Chief Justice Rehman noted: “The IGP appeared and stated in categorical terms that the order of the court was not in his knowledge and he has full intention to obey the orders of this court. In view of the same, he was directed to have the orders implemented and produce the copy of the FIR within an hour but despite the lapse of two hours no one has appeared which again seems to be a deliberate attempt on the part of the police officer to circumvent the orders of the court.”

He concluded his judgment with, “In view of the same the matter is adjourned for tomorrow. IGP Islamabad shall appear in person to explain his conduct, the order shall be communicated to him by the deputy attorney general (DAG).”

However, after the court proceedings ended, Rana Mubarak, the station house officer (SHO) of Bhara Kahu, submitted to the court a copy of the FIR registered against the property tycoon on Tuesday.

During the hearing of the case, the counsel for the petitioner told the court that on April 19, 2012, Mr Riaz, his son Ali Riaz and Dr Hafeez along with some accomplices forcefully occupied his client’s land in Phulgran village and fired rounds of bullets to harass the owners.

The counsel added that Mr Zahid was unable to get an FIR registered with the police and had to lodge an application with the district and sessions court.

“The court ordered the police to register an FIR, but the police due to certain pressure were reluctant to do so despite the court directions,” he stated.