Islamabad police saves Zardari's 'right hand man' from arrest by anti-corruption officials

Islamabad, June 25 (ANI): Pakistan anti-corruption police officials failed to arrest real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, after Islamabad Police intercepted the team while on their way to Riaz's residence.

The Anti-Corruption unit of Rawalpindi Police was told they could not lay their hands on Riaz, who is thought to be a right-hand man of President Asif Ali Zardari, without permission from the interior ministry, reports The Nation.

The team was stopped and questioned as to where they were heading. When the team revealed they were going to arrest Riaz, the Capital Territory Police (CTP) officials immediately brought the case into their bosses' knowledge who asked their men not to allow the team to move forward, states the paper.

The anti-corruption team refused to go back and tried to force their way. Meanwhile, armed troops of two law enforcement agencies reached the spot to tackle the team. However, the team went back after an anonymous call was made to the officer in-charge.

Last Thursday, an anti-corruption court in Rawalpindi issued arrest warrants for Riaz, his son Ali Riaz and five other people for failing to appear before the court in a case relating to the alleged purchase of 1,401 kanals on fake identities and forged documents at Rawat in 2009. (ANI)