Bahria Town Karachi: Political Engineering in the Name of Accountability
By Arbaz Khan Tareen
In what appears to be yet another case of selective accountability in Pakistan, Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) has become the latest battleground where political interests, business empires, and legal maneuvers collide. The recent state-led crackdown against Malik Riaz, Pakistan’s most influential real estate tycoon, raises serious concerns over the misuse of accountability laws—not to serve justice, but to settle political scores. While corruption in real estate is an issue that should be addressed, the manner in which Bahria Town is being targeted suggests that the objective is not transparency or legal integrity, but coercion. With increasing pressure on Riaz to testify against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, it is clear that the authorities are leveraging his business empire to serve their political agenda. In this process, the residents of Bahria Town Karachi—who invested their life savings in the project—have become collateral damage.
At the heart of this crackdown lies the Al-Qadir Trust case, which authorities are using as a means to pressure Malik Riaz into turning against Imran Khan. The case revolves around a £190 million settlement returned to Pakistan by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), linked to Riaz’s foreign assets. The funds were supposed to be deposited in the national treasury, but authorities claim that they were adjusted against valuable land that Riaz donated to the Al-Qadir Trust, a charity connected to Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Instead of conducting a fair legal process, reports suggest that the establishment is pressuring Malik Riaz to testify that this land deal was, in fact, a bribe to Imran Khan in exchange for reclaiming his frozen assets. This raises the question: is this truly about accountability, or is it an attempt to weaponize Riaz’s legal troubles to build a case against Khan?
In what appears to be an orchestrated move, the government and NAB have escalated legal action against Bahria Town Karachi, a project that houses thousands of middle-class and upper-middle-class residents. The sudden freezing of over 10,000 commercial plots, raids on Bahria Town offices, and restrictions on its financial transactions all indicate a broader attempt to tighten the noose around Malik Riaz. Even more alarming is the disruption of Bahria Town’s water supply—whether an administrative failure or a deliberate pressure tactic, the result is the same: residents suffering due to political maneuvering. Thousands of families, who invested in the housing scheme due to its promise of world-class living standards, are now in a state of distress, with uncertainty looming over their property ownership and future. Adding to these concerns are growing fears that after water, other essential utilities such as electricity and gas could also be disrupted. With reports suggesting that authorities may be preparing for further pressure tactics, the possibility of a complete breakdown in services looms over the residents.
The timing and intensity of the crackdown on Malik Riaz raise a critical question: why are other high-profile business figures—some with well-documented financial misconduct—being spared? Abdul Aleem Khan was once investigated for offshore assets and real estate irregularities. However, as soon as he aligned with the establishment-backed regime, the legal scrutiny surrounding him disappeared. Similarly, Jahangir Tareen, a major financier of PTI, was disqualified due to his involvement in the sugar crisis. But after breaking ties with Imran Khan and forming the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) under the establishment’s blessing, he has faced no further legal action. His businesses remain fully operational.
Several influential businessmen continue to operate unscathed, including Anwar Majeed (Omni Group), who was previously entangled in the fake accounts case but now enjoys immunity, and the Sharif family’s sugar mills, which have faced minimal scrutiny despite their involvement in major financial scandals. Meanwhile, Bahria Town faces aggressive legal action, further cementing concerns that accountability is being applied selectively.
Amidst all the political maneuvering, the most significant victims are the residents of Bahria Town Karachi. The housing society has provided world-class living conditions to thousands of Pakistanis, setting a benchmark for modern real estate development in the country. With NAB freezing assets and legal battles intensifying, property owners now find themselves in a precarious situation. Many had invested their life savings into Bahria Town, believing it to be a secure investment. The crackdown now threatens not only their properties but also their financial stability. The disruption of essential services, particularly water supply, has only worsened their plight. Residents who once enjoyed uninterrupted utilities are now struggling with basic necessities. Now, with suspicions that electricity and other amenities may also be cut off, fears are mounting that the government will go to any lengths to pressure Malik Riaz—even if it means making life unbearable for thousands of ordinary citizens.
The Bahria Town case is not an isolated incident but a continuation of a well-established pattern in Pakistan’s political landscape—where accountability is used selectively, targeting those who fall out of favor with the ruling powers. If corruption truly were the concern, why are several other influential figures operating without legal challenges? Why is Malik Riaz being singled out at a time when his testimony against Imran Khan is of political value to the state? Instead of enforcing fair accountability, Pakistan’s justice system is increasingly being used to coerce individuals into political compliance. Malik Riaz, a businessman who built one of Pakistan’s largest private housing projects, is now being subjected to unprecedented scrutiny—while others with similar or worse allegations remain untouched.
Pakistan’s accountability process must be depoliticized to ensure justice is served without bias. If Malik Riaz has committed financial irregularities, his case should be handled through a fair legal process, not used as leverage for political objectives. At the same time, the government must protect Bahria Town Karachi residents from becoming victims of this high-stakes political game. Their homes, investments, and basic necessities should not be held hostage to coercive state tactics. The Bahria Town saga is a stark reminder of how accountability, when selectively applied, becomes a tool for political engineering rather than justice. Unless Pakistan reforms its legal and governance structures to ensure equal application of the law, cases like this will continue to erode public trust in the justice system.
For now, the question remains: will Malik Riaz bow under pressure, or will he continue to resist? And more importantly, will the state’s accountability drive ever extend to those who currently enjoy its favor? Only time will tell.
