Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz (C) waves to members of the media as he leaves after appearing before the Supreme Court in Islamabad June 12, 2012. – Photo by Reuters.

ISLAMABAD: Former chairman of Bahria Town, Malik Riaz has demanded protection from the Supreme Court, claiming that his life is in grave danger, DawnNews reported.

Riaz conveyed his concerns and demands in a plea submitted to the apex court on Monday.

The business tycoon claims that during the previous hearing when he had appeared in court, some lawyers had threatened him with dire consequences.

Riaz fears that he may be attacked during the upcoming hearing on June 21 when he has to appear before the SC judges again.

The five-page application also alleges that a ‘planned campaign’ is being carried out against Riaz in the electronic and print media, which has raised the risks to his life.

Riaz argues in his application that he is a tax-paying Pakistani citizen and should be provided with complete security during the court hearings so that he may continue to contest his case in the apex court freely.

Malik Riaz is a central character in the financial scam popularly dubbed by the media as ‘Familygate’, which also involves Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry’s son Arsalan Iftikhar. Riaz has accused the CJ's son of receiving Rs340 million from him on the promise of getting cases pending in the apex court settled in his favour.

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