Interpol has officially issued Red Notices for property tycoon Malik Riaz and his son, Ahmed Ali Riaz, according to the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). This move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the real estate mogul, effectively flagging them for arrest by law enforcement agencies worldwide.
The announcement came during a session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice. NAB officials confirmed that the request was processed following the failure of the accused to appear before investigators in several high-profile corruption cases. The bureau has been pursuing the pair in connection with inquiries involving the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom—specifically regarding the 190 million pound settlement case.
For months, the legal proceedings have stalled as both men remained abroad. By securing Red Notices, Pakistani authorities are attempting to bypass the limitations of local jurisdiction, pressuring the suspects to return and face trial. While a Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant—it does not force a country to arrest the subject—it serves as a powerful instrument for border control, alerting police forces in 196 member countries that these individuals are wanted for prosecution.
The case traces back to a 2019 settlement between Malik Riaz’s firm and the UK’s National Crime Agency. Under that deal, the NCA seized funds totaling 190 million pounds from the tycoon’s accounts, which were subsequently repatriated to Pakistan. The central controversy, however, lies in how those funds were handled once they returned to the country. NAB alleges that the money was used to satisfy a separate liability owed by the property firm to the state, rather than being deposited into the national exchequer.
Critics have long pointed to the influence wielded by the country’s largest real estate developer, often citing the firm’s ability to navigate complex legal landscapes. Yet, this development suggests that investigators are attempting to break through that long-standing insulation.
The bureau is currently working with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Ministry of Interior to coordinate the next steps with international partners. Whether this will lead to an immediate detention remains uncertain, as the process of extradition is notoriously lengthy and subject to the specific legal frameworks of the host countries where the suspects are believed to be residing.
For now, the issuance of the notices puts the tycoon in a corner he hasn’t faced before. He is no longer just fighting a domestic legal battle; he is now a global fugitive in the eyes of international law enforcement.
