Court extends judicial remand of Khawaja brothers’ till May 2

F.P. Report

LAHORE: An accountability court has extended judicial remand of former Railway minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique in Paragon Housing Society scam case, on Thursday.

According to details, the imprisoned PML-N’s leaders were produced before the accountability judge on completion of their previous 14-day judicial remand.

While talking to media outside the court, Saad Rafique said that the PTI government should stop the political victimization.

PML-N leader added that the government should focus on the country’s economy and development rather to targeting the opposition on the name of accountability.

Last year in December, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested the Khawaja brothers from Lahore High Court (LHC) premises when their request for an extension in pre-arrest bail in the case was rejected.

NAB claimed that Khawaja Saad Rafique in collusion with his wife Ghazala Saad Rafique Butt, brother Salman Rafique, Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia had launched a housing project named Air Avenue, which was later renamed to Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd.

The accused allegedly connived with Nadeem Zia and Qaiser Amin Butt to defraud several members of the society and misappropriated project funds for personal gains. The accused collected huge amounts in flagrant violation of directions from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

Besides, Saad Rafique acquired 40 kanals of land in his and his brother’s name, which he used to extend the project illegally and sold commercial plots worth billions of rupees.