ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: While hearing a petition against alleged land grabbing, an additional district and sessions judge of Islamabad on Saturday ordered the Bara Kahu police to register a case against property tycoon Malik Riaz, his son Ali Riaz and others.

Judge Zeba Chaudhry passed these directions while hearing a petition filed by Mohammad Moqarab Abbasi who sought the registration of an FIR against the accused. He alleged that Mr Riaz and others had grabbed 30 kanals of land in Phulgran village in the suburbs of Islamabad.

The petitioner maintained that a private firm, Green Tree, had purchased 118 kanal of his land in Phulgran which was later sold to Bahria Town.

However, he added that Bahria Town had also encroached upon an additional 30 kanals in the same area which belonged to the petitioner.

He said the owners of Bahria Town and their accomplices were ‘known land grabbers’ and had illegally occupied the private land belonging to local residents in addition to forest land to establish their private housing schemes.

In addition, the petitioner said the Islamabad police was under the land grabbers’ influence.

Despite repeated complaints, he said the police had not registered an FIR against the land grabbers including Malik Riaz, his son Ali Riaz and Captain (retired) Shahid, the site incharge of Bahria Town.

According to the petition, the accused had also destroyed the natural beauty of the area and were involved in cutting down numerous trees. However, no government department dared to stop them from damaging the environment.

Responding to the petition, the local police, in a reply submitted to the court, admitted that petitioner Abbasi had filed complaints with them against Malik Riaz and others.

However, they said the police were still investigating the matter.

On the other hand, Judge Chaudhry said the local police had failed to exercise their power because of which the court had to interfere.

“The petition is accepted and the SHO is directed to register an FIR against the accused to proceed in accordance with the law,” the judge added.—Malik Asad