The car race tragedy in Malik Riaz Hussain’s Bahria Empire
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Five killed as racing car crashes into spectators in Islamabad
* Driver of racing car loses control, crashes into spectators after hitting safety railing
* Police claim race held every week despite not being given permission to do so
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: At least five people, including three of a family, were killed and two others injured as a car crashed into spectators during a race in Islamabad, a private TV channel reported on Sunday.
According to police, a car race competition had been arranged on Sunday to promote motor sports in the country. During the car race, one car lost control and crashed into spectators after hitting the safety railing and smashing into a footpath. The driver, along with four other bystanders, including one child, was killed. Three members of a family, including a father and his son, were also among the unfortunate bystanders. The car was running at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour. Two of the wounded have been shifted to a nearby hospital by rescue teams, where their condition is reported to be stable, the channel said.
Police said the car race was held every week, even though people had not been given any permission to do so. Rawalpindi DCO Imdad Bosal said the administration did not permit the race, adding that after which, the organisers of the race chose the area. Whereas, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aamir Ali said permission for the race was not sought from the Islamabad administration.
On the other hand, Rawat Police Station SHO has admitted that the race site was in the limits of the police station and two sub-inspectors, one ASI and 10 police constables were deployed at the site, the channel reported.
According to details, one Atif Sheikh wrote a letter to the DCO office on December 1 seeking permission for the race. On December 2, the DCO’s office asked the Special Branch to present a report on the matter. A report from the DPO office permitted the race, but the report from the Special Branch disallowed it. On December 4, the Rawalpindi DCO office formally prohibited the race, saying that it could not be allowed. In spite of this, the race was held in the limits of the Rawat Police Station. However, SHO Chaudhry Mehdi claimed that he had a permit letter for the race. Investigations into the incident have begun by the Rawalpindi DCO.
The organisers of the race have said that the spectators were warned several times to stay at a distance from the race track and not to get close to the railing. (Source)
Bahria town racing: Speed thrills but kills five
Umer Nangiana
RAWALPINDI: Five spectators of a drag race were killed when one of the sports cars skidded off the road and ran them over. A woman and a minor child were also injured in the incident, which took place on Sunday in Phase VIII of Bahria town, a posh locality in the outskirts of the twin cities.
Driver of car number 707, Muhammad Majid Khan, who is also the senior manager of a national telecom giant, managed to escape from the scene with a few injuries, said police.
It was not clear if the race was legally organised or not. The Rawat area police denied having given permission to the telecom company to organise the race. The company officials, however, had somehow managed to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Bahria Town management.
“A copy of the NOC was sent to the police station after we had rejected their application seeking permission to hold the race,” said a police official.
Witnesses told the police that the speeding driver had lost control of his car, and was trying to reduce speed by grazing it along the footpath. However, he failed to regain control and after hitting the footpath, the car skidded straight on to crush the spectators.
Four people Daniyal Khan, Babar Khan, Sohail Khan and (son of) Colonel (Retired) Mohsin Khan died on the spot, while Asfand Yar was pronounced dead upon reaching the hospital. A woman Jamana Khan and a minor child Hamza Iqbal suffered injuries and were shifted to the nearby Safari hospital.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Commissioner Rawalpindi, Zahid Saeed said that the race was illegally organised.
“After they were refused permission, the organisers informed us that the race would be held in the jurisdiction of Islamabad and not Rawalpindi but then they did it in the latter,” said Saeed.
Police said cases were registered against the driver of the car, the Bahria Town management, and the chief organiser of the race, Sheikh Atif, who had managed to escape.
Commissioner Saeed said that strict action would be taken against everyone found involved in organising or executing the race. The race was allegedly sponsored by the leading telecom company but no spokesperson was available for comments.
In a drag race, two challengers race down a straight road. Usually, light sports cars fitted with powerful engines are used. Winning the race requires being able to change gears quickly and smoothly at the perfect time (depending on the optimum revolutions per minute (rpm) of the engine). Since the cars normally speed down a straight road, spectators feel safe standing just on the side and watching the events unfold at relative proximity. Drivers are required to keep a close watch on their rpms, turning and manoeuvring skills are not tested. Majid, however, managed to lose control over his vehicle and drove off the track. Because the car was at a high speed, the spectators did not have any time to move out of the way or run for safety.
“The car was completely smashed,” said police. Rawat police were on the look out for Sheikh Atif and Majid Khan. However, no arrests were made till the filing of this report.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2010.
The Bahria Town (Pvt) Limited Malik Riaz Hussain heads the massive project which is currently developing state-of-the-art schemes in Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Though Malik Riaz may not be having a very renowned name in business circles, fact has it that the value of his land-holdings both within & outside Pakistan amounts dozens of billions of rupees. Emerging out of the blue, this developer has reportedly developed tremendous connections where it matters in Pakistan-One of the few reasons why his constructed projects get completed in time without hindrance. Whether he has gifted bungalows free of cost of country’s bigwigs or offered them at highly concessional rates, the reality on the ground is that Malik has managed to mesmerize most through his generous wallet. Possessing no convincing financial background, Malik Riaz is known to have been
benefited immensely-courtesy patronage of former Pakistan Navy chief admiral retired Mansoor ul Haq. Others say both Malik and the admiral had stuck a $ 200,000 deal but the man behind the Bahria Town is least moved and irrespective of who is in power; he continues to build house after house-swelling his wealth. And then he is happy being a sponsor for many-welfare parties held under patronage of the ruling elite. (Source)
5 dec 2010, venue (Bahria Town Rawalpindi) racing event turns into a death event for some innocent people who died due to the crash of Toyota supra at 160 kmphr
Kamran Khan, Malik Riaz and Lies of Jang Group
No make mentioning of Malik Riaz’s tax fraud. PPP should ask FBR to arrest Malik Riaz at the earliest.
Setting aside the official and security protocol, President Asif Ali Zardari paid a visit to the house of property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain on Monday night. According to police sources, the president arrived at the house in Sector G-6/3 at around midnight with.. (Dawn)
AOA
Dear Dawn Rep,
after your program i have came to the conclusion that no one is sincere with our PAKISTAN. can u tell us the details of your tax submissions and all other news channels as GEO is the biggest defaulter FBR.
Plz tell us we r waiting for ur reply.
Regards
Zeeshan
Zardari visits real estate tycoon
From the Newspaper
(15 hours ago) Today
By Munawer Azeem
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Setting aside the official and security protocol, President Asif Ali Zardari paid a visit to the house of property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain on Monday night.
According to police sources, the president arrived at the house in Sector G-6/3 at around midnight with a fleet of private vehicles. He was escorted by workers of the Pakistan People’s Party.
The unscheduled visit caused confusion among security and law-enforcement agencies and different wings of Islamabad police stated communicating with each other to ensure security of the president’s private convoy.
Later, a contingent of police commandos was deployed in the street for security of the president who remained there for about an hour before returning to the presidency.
The purpose of the visit could not be ascertained.
Malik Riaz is considered to be a person wielding a lot of influence in the corridors of power.
President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar expressed ignorance about the visit. http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/08/zardari-visits-real-estate-tycoon-2.html
Shame on one Mafia Don (Zardari) visiting another Mafia Don (Malik Riza)
SC cancels high court’s bail to drag race accused
By: Staff Report | Published: January 18, 2011
ISLAMABAD – Expressing dismay over the Sindh High Court’s decision to grant protective bail to Ali Riaz, son of Bahria Town’s chief executive Malik Riaz, in the fatal drag car race case, the Supreme Court on Monday reversed the ruling by canceling the bail. The illegal race had ended with loss of five lives after an accident on December 5, 2010.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday was conducting a suo motu hearing of the case. The Supreme Court wondered as to why the Sindh High Court granted the bail in a case that took place in Punjab, out of the SHC jurisdiction.
Justice Ramday said, “It is highly an illegal act and let not anyone be allowed to make mockery of the justice system as everyone is equal before the law.” The investigating officer DIG Major (retd) Mubashir told the court that Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi Mukhtar Gondal and Islamabad Police were not cooperating in investigation.
The chief justice inquired if he (DIG) had taken up the matter with the Punjab Inspector General Police and observed no progress has been made in the investigation.
“Since you are a capable officer and you must know once the credibility of an officer is lost, it becomes difficult for him to regain the same”, the chief justice said.
Advocate General Punjab Khawaja Harris informed the court that it was surprising that after the incident when the Rawalpindi police raided the residence of Bahria Town’s chief executive, the high ups of Islamabad police were there condoling with him the tragic end of the illegal drag race. On the request of advocate general Punjab, the court adjourned the hearing till January 28.
http://pakistantoday.com.pk/pakistan-news/National/18-Jan-2011/SC-cancels-high-courts-bail-to-drag-race-accused
Islamabad: Bahria Town Car Race Case Tycoon still not out of woods
Posted by Tahir Iqbal on March 1st, 2011
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Islamabad: Bahria Town car race Tycoon still not out of woods
ISLAMABAD, Monday, February 28, 2011: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the compromise statement submitted to it on behalf of the heirs of drag car race victims pardoning three accused involved in the incident that claimed the lives of five spectators.
A three judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani while hearing the case did not approve of the compromise statement of Ms Tahira Qaiser, mother of one of the deceased, submitted by senior counsel Hamid Khan.
Car Race Case – SC proceedings on Feb 28, 2011
The race was held in Bahria Town on December 5, 2010, although the authorities did not give permission for it.
The chief justice expressed shock over how a flawed compromise was given effect by Rawalpindi Additional Sessions Judge Chaudhry Aurangzeb when it was recorded before him and warned of referring a judicial order to the chief justice Lahore High Court for initiating a disciplinary action against the judge.
The compromise statement not only mentioned that the mother of the victim had forgiven all the accused namely Chief Executive Bahria Ahmed Ali Riaz, Senior Manager Waleed Eman who organised the event without permission and Security Incharge Col (retired) Rafaqat but it also gave a clean chit to the accused by declaring him innocent.
The statement led the chief justice to take exception by asking how the heirs could declare the accused innocent when it was the job of the investigating agency. The compromise always means a confession that could entail conviction under the law, the chief justice emphasized.
However, in its order the court avoided passing any adverse stricture against the sessions’ judge though it asked the judge to act in accordance with the law without being influenced by the present proceedings in the Supreme Court.
The court ordered Hamid Khan, the counsel representing the Bahria Town, to complete the legal requirement before reaching a fresh compromise.
Advocate General Khawaja Haris conceded before the court that the agreement was not reached in proper manner and that it was for the third time that the court had highlighted discrepancies in the way the compromise was being reached.
Khawaja Haris also accepted that the PTCL was also directly involved in the incident because it ran advertisements in the print media ignoring the fact that no formal permission for the event was granted by the authorities.
Investigating Officer Maj (retired) Mubashirullah assured the court that the police would be proceeding against all the sponsors including the PTCL, PSO and the GM Securities.
About Atif Sheikh, one of the organisers of the event who applied for the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to hold the rally, and also the son-in-law of former principal secretary,Tariq Aziz, of former President Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf, the FIA informed the court through a report that red warrants had been issued and efforts were being made to bring him back.
Measures are also being taken to impound his passport, the court was told.
The case will be taken up again after three weeks.
(Published in Daily Dawn on March 1, 2011)
http://www.ptclworkers.com/news/islamabad-bahria-town-car-race-case-tycoon-still-not-out-of-woods/
Riaz hussain is presenting character of a shudar family who is looting and betraying Pakistanis and proving himself to be very wise and intelligent……..Aisay kutta pe hazar lanat….Kanjar family ka akhri charagh hai yeh kutta…..
your article is so good thanks for this great article. can u tell us the details of your tax submissions and all other news channels as GEO is the biggest defaulter FBR.
Atif Kamran
Atif Kamran Scam