British MPs under fire for promoting Malik Riaz’s Dubai project: report

LONDON: Three Pakistani-origin British members of parliament attended promotional events for a Dubai property, scheme own­ed by Pakistani real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain and his son Ali Riaz Malik, both of whom cannot enter the United Kingdom and are being investigated by authorities in Pakistan, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times.

The MPs including Labour’s Naz Shah and Afzal Khan along with independent Ayoub Khan spoke at roadshow events in June 2024 promoting the Waada project, a proposed 14m-sq-foot development in south Dubai that will feature luxury apartments, mansions, a five-star hotel and a replica Eiffel Tower.

At one event, the property tyc­oon and his son appeared via large screens, with Riaz Malik saying “The true measure of success is not what we build, but who we uplift.”

Mr Riaz, 72, is the founder and chairman of Bahria Town, while his 48-year-old son serves as chief executive. In 2019, the pair agreed to forfeit £190m to Britain’s National Crime Agency following an unexplained wealth order investigation. The settlement included proceeds from the sale of a £50m London mansion.

The NCA returned the funds to Pakistan, but the repatriated amo­unt became central to the corruption case against ex-premier Imran Khan. He was accused of allowing the money to pay off Bahria Town debts in alleged exchange for land and cash for himself and his wife, leading to his 14-year prison sentence. Mr Khan, detained since August 2023, maintains the charges are politically motivated.

Three parliamentarians appeared at events for Waada scheme distance themselves from the developers and their project

As Mr Riaz and his son have not been convicted of any criminal offe­n­ces, they have characterised the NCA settlement as civil in nature and accused critics of mud-slinging.

UK entry banned

In November 2021, the UK Court of Appeal upheld the Home Office’s decision to bar Malik Riaz and his son from entering Britain. Lady Justice Nicola Davies stated their exclusion was “conducive to the public good” due to their “conduct, character and associations”.

The Pakistan government has since issued arrest warrants for several Bahria Town executives, including Shahid Mahmood Qur­eshi, the company’s head of global sales who led the UK roadshow. Islamabad has formally sought extradition of the father and son and warned the public that investing in the Dubai venture could constitute money-laundering.

Despite this background, The Sunday Times report stated, the three parliamentarians attended promotional events over eight days in June last year.

Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Rusholme and member of parliament’s joint human rights committee, appeared at the roadshow launch at the Royal Nawaab Pyramid in Stockport on June 14. He praised the developers’ “30 plus years of experience” and participated in a ceremonial procession alongside Qureshi.

Ayoub Khan, independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, atten­ded the Birmingham event at the Hyatt Regency the following day as “guest of honour”. He told atte­ndees that the people behind it were “those that created Bahria Town… there’s a track record behind the organisation.”

Naz Shah, Labour MP for Brad­ford West, attended a gala finale in Mayfair, describing the company as having “a successful reputation in Pakistan”.

All three appearances were used in promotional materials and advertisements for the Dubai project.

Ayoub Khan was quoted in the report as saying he had “no prior knowledge of any historical impropriety” and has written to the company demanding removal of all references to him from promotional materials. He claimed he did not encourage constituents to invest.

A spokesman for Naz Shah said she “gets invited to attend many events by her constituents that relate to their Pakistani heritage and this was one of those events.”

Afzal Khan said he attended it “briefly after being invited by a local business person, not the organisers” and did not endorse the company or promote the project.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2026