ISLAMABAD: The registration of an FIR against property tycoon Malik Riaz and his son on Monday left the capital city’s police department reeling, which appears to have been caught in the middle of a power struggle between two influential personalities.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Tahir Alam Khan confirmed to Dawn on Tuesday night that a case had been registered against Malik Riaz and his son because they were nominated by the complainant.

However, he said that no Bahria Town vehicles or personnel were observed when the police team reached the scene of the disturbance.

Despite the registration of the case, a copy of the FIR was not immediately available.

Police officials told Dawn that they were called by the complainant, Ijaz Rafi Butt, over a land dispute in Nilor police precincts, claiming that a group of people were trespassing on his property, located in the Sihali village, next to the Bahria Enclave housing society.

Instead of sending a team to investigate, Nilor police asked him to come to the police station and prove ownership of the property. According to established standard operating procedures, police are bound to respond to all 15 calls by dispatching a patrol team, who carry out an initial investigation and report back to the relevant police station with details.

Ostensibly annoyed by the police response, Mr Butt is said to have approached a senior government functionary, who reportedly asked top police officials to address the grievances of the complainant and a police team was eventually dispatched to the scene.

But instead of a team from the local precinct, the raiding party was led by the SP City, even though the area falls under the jurisdiction of SP Rural. The party also consisted of the sub-divisional police officers from the Secretariat and Shahzad Town, as well as the station house officers (SHOs) from the Secretariat, Bhara Kahu and Shahzad Town police stations. This high-powered team was reinforced by police reserves and commandos.

According to police officials involved in the action, the team found labourers working on the land and levelling it, under the supervision of armed guards. The police team took dozens of individuals, including labourers and gunmen into custody and also confiscated machinery and vehicles such as bulldozers, tractors and trolleys. However, the labourers were released and 19 gunmen were shifted to the Nilor police station for further legal action and the registration of a case.

An initial investigation suggested that a property dealer was behind the trespassing and illegal occupation of the land and a case was registered by Nilor police after “orders from above” to facilitate the complainant. However, once it became clear that Mr Butt had nominated the property tycoon and his son, confusion ensued.

According to sources within the department, an official from the Central Police Office reprimanded the SP Rural and SHO Nilor for registering the case, but while the former said he had no knowledge of the incident, the latter officer defended himself by saying that he was simply “following orders”.

Sources said that police were under pressure to expunge Malik Riaz’ name from the FIR. One of the officers from the area in question told Dawn on condition of anonymity that there was no evidence to connect Malik Riaz and his son to the land-grabbing and therefore, their names may be excluded from the FIR.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2015

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