by Imdad Soomro in The News, May 12, 2017
KARACHI: The Sindh Rangers have started an inquiry into alleged life threats to a businessman and attempts to deprive him of assets by a businessman at the behest of the ruling party head in the Sindh province.
Shahzad Riaz, a businessman, in a complaint filed with the DG Rangers on May 4, 2017, application copy available with The News, sought protection for him, family and business.
Riaz blamed that the head of Omni Group of Companies Anwar Majeed and Khawaja Salman Younis had been trying to take control of his business, Belarus Tractors in Pakistan, for the last two years.
He alleged that Majeed and Salman were front men of former president and PPPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari. He further alleged that on June 12, 2015 his son Zain Shahzad and office worker Muhammad Ahsan were kidnapped on the orders of these influential persons in order to pressurize him to hand his business over to them.
Riaz said his son and office worker were released after intervention by the then DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar.
It is pertinent to mention that on May 2 the Sindh High Court (SHC) reserved its decision on the ownership of Belarus Tractors. The parties to the case are M/s Shahzad Tractor Link of Shahzad Riaz and Mtw Pak Assembling Industries Limited of Anwar Majeed.
Riaz also blamed Usman Ghani, a director of Sindh Anti-Corruption Department, for pressurising him and raiding his house in Karachi allegedly at the behest of Anwar Majeed and the ruling party head.
Speaking to The News, Director Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment Usman Ghani said it was not in his knowledge that a complaint had been filed with the Rangers against some high-profile personalities and him.
He however admitted that a complaint had been received against some officers of the Sindh Agriculture Department and a businessman Shahzad Riaz for alleged corruption of Rs1.45 billion in the tractor subsidy scheme.
After initial inquiry and obtaining all legal procedures, an FIR has been registered against Shahzad Riaz and three directors of the Sindh Agriculture Department, he added.
Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for Asif Ali Zardari, told The News that Asif Zardari was unaware about the person and even about the matter.
“These are baseless allegations and there is no connection of AZ with these matters,” he added.
Rangers Spokesman Major Qambar told The News that an application was received and the matter was under inquiry and scrutiny.
“We are on it and will soon share the information and progress with you,” concluded Major Qambar.
This reporter tried to get the official version of Anwar Majeed and Khawaja Salman and sent a detailed email at the official website of Omni Group of Companies besides sending a detailed message to Anwar Majeed at his Dubai number but despite three-day wait there was no response till the filing of news in the evening.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/203994-Businessman-alleges-life-threats-bid-to-deprive-him-of-assets
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