Passports of four suspects blocked in £190m case

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior, initiating action against absconding suspects in £190 million case, has blocked the passports of four key accused at the request of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday.

The wanted individuals are Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz, his son Ali Riaz, former PM’s adviser on accountability Shehzad Akbar and former first lady’s close friend Farah Shehzadi. The sources said that efforts to extradite Malik Riaz and his son would be initiated within a couple of weeks. The Federal Investigation Agency Interpol wing, when contacted, said that a proper request from NAB has not yet been received, however, its director told this correspondent that NAB could directly apply to Interpol headquarters for the extradition.

A day earlier, NAB began proceedings to bring Malik Riaz and Ali Riaz back from the UAE. NAB officials have contacted the UAE authorities for their extradition. The sources said that the property tycoon may be deported under international anti-money laundering laws and the Vienna Convention.