Twitter exploded with reactions after UK’s National Crime Agency announced to reach a settlement offer of £190 million with Pakistan’s leading real estate tycoon, Malik Riaz.
The NCA has accepted a settlement offer in the region of £190 million which includes a UK property, 1 Hyde Park Place, London, W2 2LH, valued at approximately £50 million and all of the funds in the frozen accounts.
This is £40 million worth 1 Hyde Park Place subjected 2 freezing order aftr Malik Riaz bought it. Properties worth millions of the following r in the vicinity: Hasan Nawaz, Faisal Vawda, Aleem Khan, Musharraf, Rehman Malik, Makhdum Ahmed, Zulfi Bukhari, Aneel Musarrat, Chaudharis pic.twitter.com/rNcqHONyFM
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) December 3, 2019
After biggest Masjid of Bahria Town. Malik Riaz makes another big records. This is the biggest amount ever frozen by @NCA_UK – no previous amounts even come close to this one. Well done malik riaz for becoming the BIGGEST embarrassment for us internationally 🖐🏿🖐🏿🖐🏿
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) December 3, 2019
The money recovered from Malik Riaz will make its way back to Pakistan, informed NCA further in the subsequent tweets.
Sometimes one feels sympathy for poor Malik Riaz who has to take blame and responsibility for everything – even things he had not done himself! One Man Rescue Mission for the Rich & Politically Powerful in Pakistan? https://t.co/1C79nI9xWr via @@GVS_News
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) December 3, 2019
Sometimes one feels sympathy for poor Malik Riaz who has to take blame and responsibility for everything – even things he had not done himself! One Man Rescue Mission for the Rich & Politically Powerful in Pakistan? https://t.co/1C79nI9xWr via @@GVS_News
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) December 3, 2019
The latest news sent a wave of excitement among people as social media went into overdrive with Pakistan’s notable journalists, commentators and avid followers of politics heavily weighing in on the matter.
Big big news people of Pakistan.190 million pounds coming home. Thank you @NCA_UK – the poor and oppressed ppl will thank u all their life. Plz just speed up the process- u will find billions that was stolen from Pak. #MalikRiaz payback time. Nexus of shareefs and Riazs EXPOSED! pic.twitter.com/JotR0orAO3
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) December 3, 2019
Moreover, a previous video of acclaimed anchorperson Arshad Sharif resurfaced and floated on Twitter in which he claimed that the 1 Hyde Park Place property originally belonged to Hassan Nawaz hailing from the embattled former ruling family, the Sharifs.
Social media has declared it a significant victory for Pakistan with Shahbaz Gill crediting Prime Minister Imran Khan for vehemently leading a campaign against embezzlement of public money and money laundering. Gill asserted that a whopping recovery is the consequence of Imran Khan’s relentless conviction towards bringing the looted money back to Pakistan. Imran Khan is a visionary leader who thought about corruption when no one regarded it as a serious offense.
Read more: NCA, UK settlement with Malik Riaz: Implications for Pakistani Politics
People congratulated the Pakistani government and Shahzad Akbar, who is leading the accountability drive and investigations into the foreign assets of Pakistani politicians abroad.
They hoped that the government will continue its campaign against the looted money and other offenders who have immensely harmed Pakistan.
"The £190 million settlement is the result of an investigation by the NCA (National Crime Agency, UK) into Malik Riaz Hussain."
"The NCA has accepted a settlement offer in region of £190 million."https://t.co/uT7BnlxlOE
— Umar Cheema (@UmarCheema1) December 3, 2019
Guess who sold it to Malik Riaz? 😂 Okay don't, the answer might end up hurting you. https://t.co/40nPjFhVOQ
— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) December 3, 2019
Not to worry Mr. Riaz, all that money being sent to Pakistan will end up back in your pocket eventually after you make deals with your buddies in the government/army. (Also imagine how much money this guy has if he can settle for £190 million!) https://t.co/B1eXqE0SRu
— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) December 3, 2019
First concrete sign of recovery of looted money from #Nawaz Sharif family. An asset sold to proxy owner Malik Riaz by Hassan Nawaz will be handed to Pakistan.
Sharifs could not prove its legitimacy of funds & used Malik Riaz to buy off but #UK Crimes Agency recoverd back from MR
— Jan Achakzai / جان اچکزئی (@Jan_Achakzai) December 3, 2019
Though Sharif family and Malik Riaz came under intense derision on social media following the news. People asserted that the Sharif family and Malik Riaz have become the source of shame for Pakistan globally.
Pakistani property tycoon Malik Riaz has agreed to pay Britain’s National Crime Agency £190m in a settlement after UK bank accounts linked to him were frozen… The money will now be sent to the Pakistani Govt: https://t.co/ERSvs7Awfl
— Secunder Kermani (@SecKermani) December 3, 2019