DM Digital's Manchester based offices were raided by immigration officers in a series of swoops, last week, according to Manchester Evening News.

The seven men were picked up from the studios of three of its channels - DM Digital TV, DM Islam TV and DM Digital World TV - headed by Dr. Liaqat Malik.

Five of the seven men were found at the studio in a five storey mill building sleeping fully dressed in two bedrooms in Turner Street of Manchester City Centre.

All are suspected of being illegal immigrants from Pakistan.

Two houses in Cheetham Hill were also searched as part of the operation by the North West Border and Immigration Agency.

Manchester Evening News also attempted to contact DM Digital but to no avail. A spokesman for DM Digital told the paper that they could not speak to Dr. Malik and it was not possible to get a message to him.

The 47-year-old father-of-two was struck off by a Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal in July 2004 after a Manchester Evening News undercover investigation revealed he had a criminal record for dishonesty and had previously been officially disciplined and banned from practising as a solicitor.

Dr. Malik was not at the TV station offices and refused to comment from his Rochdale home.

Dr. Malik was not arrested as part of the operation codenamed 'Europteria', but is expected to be quizzed about the immigration status of his staff during the course of the investigation.

BizAsia.co.uk is awaiting a comment from Dr. Malik on this developing story.

Article from Manchester Evening News

Updated: 13:30 5/10/2007