An Islamabad accountability court took decisive action on Monday, freezing the properties of five individuals, including renowned property tycoon Malik Riaz and his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, who were declared proclaimed offenders in a high-profile £190 million corruption case.

Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir issued orders to freeze both movable and immovable assets of Malik Riaz, his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, former Prime Minister Zulfi Bukhari’s aides Mirza Shahzad Akbar and Farhat Shahzadi (aka Farah Khan), and lawyer Ziaul Mustafa Nasim. Perpetual arrest warrants were also issued for these individuals.

The court’s directives extend nationwide, instructing revenue officers to seize immovable properties, excise and taxation officers to confiscate vehicles registered in their names, and commercial banks to freeze their accounts, prohibiting transactions or withdrawals.

To oversee the collection of rental income from the suspects’ properties, the judge appointed an additional director of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as a “receiver.”

During Monday’s proceedings, the NAB prosecution team, led by Sardar Muzaffar Khan Abbasi, shared a copy of the reference with the counsel for Zulfi Bukhari. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi, both accused in the reference, were warned of non-bailable warrants due to their non-appearance.

The court invoked Section 88 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, enabling the attachment of properties when an accused is declared a proclaimed offender. On January 6, Malik Riaz filed an application seeking the suspension of his arrest warrants, citing his lack of awareness about the proceedings while abroad. The judge, however, dismissed the application, maintaining the arrest warrants.

The freezing of assets marks a significant development in the ongoing corruption case, signaling intensified efforts by the accountability court to address financial irregularities and alleged corruption involving prominent figures in Pakistan.