ISLAMABAD, March 20: Property tycoon Malik Riaz faces Rs1 billion defamation suit filed by the former director of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Colonel (retied) Tariq Kamal.

An additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) of Islamabad Raja Khurram Ali Khan on Wednesday issued notice to the tycoon.

Mr Kamal who is also happened to be the secretary general of ex-servicemen society, in his petition said that Mr Riaz had defamed him in a TV programme aired on February 10, 2013.

Mr Kamal contended before the court that in the TV programme, Mr Riaz leveled serious allegations against him.

`Colonel Tariq Kamal is a blackmailer and he was demanding Rs200 million and a plot in the DHA` Mr Kamal quote d the property tycoon as saying.

Mr Kamal said that he was a retired serviceman enjoying respect as an upright person in the society and holding senior appointments in different welfare organisations.-A Reporter