ISLAMABAD, April 23: District and sessions judge of Islamabad “east” Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi on Monday directed the Bhara Kahu SHO to register FIR against property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain and his son in land grabbing case.

The judge passed the orders while deciding two identical petitions filed by Islamabad based lawyers against the alleged grabbing of their land measuring 300 kanals by the employees of Malik Riaz.

The police in its written reply submitted in the court defended the property tycoon and stated that at the time of the incident when alleged land grabbing and firing took place, neither he nor his son Ali Riaz were present at the spot. The petitioners were also not present at the said location, the reply added.

However, after receiving the complaint, the police stated, they reached the spot and arrested some armed men.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the police reply, the judge directed them to register FIR within 24 hours.

The court order said the police was bound to register the case upon receipt of the complaint and initiate investigation into the matter, and their reluctance in registering the FIR was illegal and unlawful.

Raja Haroon, in the petition filed on Saturday, stated that some employees of Bahria Town, at the behest of Malik Riaz, came to the land of his family and other relatives and opened fire on them and warned them to leave the place otherwise be ready to face the consequences.

The petitioner said the attackers bulldozed all the residences, dismantled Wapda poles, electric meters, water system and even hurled threats at the women of the area.

The petitioner alleged that Malik Riaz was in the habit of grabbing private properties with the help of police.

He said when the Bhara Kahu SHO came to their rescue he was replaced by another inspector Khalid Masood.

Mr Haroon said the police was legally bound to register an FIR after receipt of the written complaint but because of their loyalty with the tycoon, they registered the case against the father of the petitioner and other family members.

Meanwhile, the district bar association of Islamabad announced to boycott the courts proceedings on Tuesday to protest the actions of Malik Riaz Hussain.

The Islamabad bar also requested its members to reach the Constitutional Avenue on Tuesday morning to register their protest.