Paragon case: Court extends Khawaja brother’s judicial remand till May 16
LAHORE (92 News) – An accountability court in Lahore on Thursday extended judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique till May 16 in the Paragon Housing Society scandal.
Accountability court judge Syed Najamul Hassan heard the case. Saad Rafique could not attend the hearing due to the National Assembly session but Salman Rafique presented before court.
During the hearing, the NAB judge ordered to immediately take Salman Rafique back to the jail, adding that the complete city has been locked down.
However, a heavy contingent of police was deployed around the court to prevent party workers from disrupting law and order situation during their appearance.
NAB decides to file illegal assets reference against Saad Rafique
Earlier, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to file another reference of illegal assets against PML-N MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique.
Khawaja Saad Rafique is already in the custody of the NAB in the Paragon Housing scam. After approval of the NAB chairman, the reference will prepared against Khawaja Saad Rafique. Sources said that the NAB had received key evidence against Khawaja Saad Rafique.
Kh Saad, Salman Rafique’s remand extended till March 19
Earlier, an accountability court extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim league-N (PML-N) leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique in Paragon city case till March 19. During the hearing, Khawaja Saad and Salman appeared before Accountability Court Judge Saeed Najamul Hassan. They were brought to the court in an armoured vehicle. Saad Rafique complained the court that there aren’t any medical treatment facility at the jail he has been kept in. “I don’t want to go to hospital,” he said. The NAB prosecutor said that the anti-graft body needs more time to prepare its report and asked for an extension in the remand of the PML-N leaders. However, the court adjourned the case till March 19.NAB allegations
Following their arrests, the NAB Lahore had issued a press release and stated that “Accused Saad along with his benamidaar wife Ghazala Saad Rafique, brother Salman in association with Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia established a housing project in the name of Air Avenue which was converted into a new housing project namely M/S Paragon City Pvt Limited. Record shows that M/S Paragon City is an illegal society.”
“Accused in collusion, connivance and collaboration of Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia cheated the members of public at large and obtained illegal pecuniary benefits from the funds of said illegal housing project,” it added.
Further, it stated, “Accused is operating this illegal housing project through his associates/ co-accused persons who are collecting deposits from general public despite clear directions from LDA that this project is unapproved.”
“Accused has been and is continuously obtaining illegal/ illegitimate funds/ benefits from said project as he obtained 40 kanal plots in his own name and the name of his brother Salman.”
The press release continued, “Accused by misusing his official position continued the expansion and marketing of illegal housing project and also obtained undue benefits in the form of sale of numbers of commercial plots worth billions of rupees which were actually not owned by M/S Paragon City. Thus the buyers have been cheated through this action of corruption and corrupt practices.”
