Lahore (Staff Report): An accountability court on Thursday extended judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique till July 16 in Paragon Housing Society scam case.
Accountability Court Judge Syed Jawadul Hassan presided over the hearing of the case.
A heavy contingent of police was deployed around the court to prevent PML-N workers from disrupting law and order situation during the lawmakers’ appearance.
The prosecutor of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) submitted a report about arrest of co-accused, including Nadeem Zia, Umar Zia and Farhan Ali.
He stated that the court issued arrest warrants of the accused on June 3, but they could not be arrested yet despite efforts.
He further told the court that NAB chairman had also issued their warrants and all possible steps were being taken to ensure their arrest.
At this, the court directed to initiate process to declare Nadeem Zia, Umar Zia and Farhan Ali as absconders.
The court extended the judicial remand of the PML-N lawmakers and adjourned the hearing till July 16.
The court also directed NAB authorities for distributing reference copies among the accused on the next date of hearing.
On December 11, 2018, National Accountability Bureau (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.