The Accountability Court in Rawalpindi has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for property tycoon Malik Riaz and Ali Riaz Malik in the Takht Pari reference after their failure to appear before the court.
The court has ordered their arrest and production at the next hearing.
The case involves allegations of illegal occupation of government land for a housing society in and around Takht Pari. A total of 17 individuals, including former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Malik Riaz, have been named in the reference.
Court grants Elahi one-day exemption
The hearing was conducted by Judge Muhammad Akmal Khan, during which the lawyer representing Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi presented a medical certificate on his behalf. The court accepted the request for a one-day exemption from attendance due to health reasons.
Meanwhile, the lawyers of four out of 10 suspects named in the reference appeared before the court, while all 14 suspects were directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs500,000 each.
Rs335bn corruption allegations
The reference, filed last month, accuses the individuals of causing a loss of Rs335 billion to the national exchequer by illegally transferring thousands of kanals of government land in Takht Pari to Bahria Town. The land was later used for the development of phases seven and eight of the housing society.
The court has adjourned further proceedings until April 16, directing authorities to ensure the presence of all suspects at the next hearing.
