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Paragon scandal: Khawaja brothers’ remand extended till July 16

Paragon scandal: Khawaja brothers’ remand extended till July 16
July 12, 2019
LAHORE (92 News) – An accountability court in Lahore has on Thursday extended judicial remand of Member of National Assembly (MNA) Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique till July 16 in the Paragon Housing Society scam. During the hearing, the PML-N leaders appeared in the court for the proceedings. A report compiled on the matter by the NAB against Nadeem Zia, Umer Zia and Farhan Ali was also submitted in the court as evidence pertaining to the case. Meanwhile, the Khwaja brothers could not be provided with copies of the references against them. The court adjourned further proceedings till July 16. During the appearance, talking to the journalists, Khawaja Saad said, everything is not going right but the opposition does not want to topple the PTI-led government. The business and economy of the country are being destroyed.” He further mentioned that the meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan with the traders was proved unsuccessful. Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of police was deployed around the court to prevent party workers from disrupting law and order situation during their appearance. Earlier, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a reference against Khawaja brothers in the Paragon Housing scam. Khawaja Saad Rafique, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Nadeem Zia, Umar Zia and Farhan Ali have been nominated in the reference submitted to the accountability court. Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique face the charge of getting the financial benefit of Rs 58 million and Rs 39 million from Paragon City.
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.”