Lahore (Staff Report): An accountability court on Saturday extended the physical remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother, Salman Rafique till January 19 in connection with the probe Paragon Housing Society scandal.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials presented Khawaja Saad and Salman in the court and sought extension in their physical remand.
During the hearing, the accountability court's judge asked the NAB investigator regarding number of people who had been issued notices to.
Responding to the court, the NAB investigator said that a total of “32 individuals have been summoned by the anti-graft watchdog”.
When inquired about Saad Rafique’s involvement in the scam, the NAB official responded that the evidences the involvement of the former minister and his brother will be presented. The NAB prosecutor requested the court to give an extension in the physical remand of the detainees.
However, Counsel for Khawaja brothers raised objections to this however counsel which was met with objections by the counsel for the PML-N leaders.
The court at first reserved its decision and then extended their physical remand for 14 days. Later the court adjourned hearing of the case till January 19.
Talking to newsmen outside accountability court in Lahore, Khawaja Saad Rafique said that the country has been given to incompetent people. He said that the Imran government has pushed the country towards crisis.
The PML-N leader said that the upcoming mini-budget will bring massive inflation. "The people of Pakistan will soon get rid of the civil dictatorship present in the country," the former minister said.
On December 11, 2018, NAB arrested Pakistan Railways former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique after the Lahore High Court (LHC) turned down their plea seeking extension in interim bail in a case regarding Paragon Housing Society scandal.
NAB Lahore had issued a press release after the arrest stating that “accused Saad Rafique along with his benamidaar wife Ghazala Saad Rafique, brother Salman Rafique 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 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 Rafique,” the bureau said.
