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 February 2 in the case regarding Paragon Housing Society scandal.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials presented Khawaja Saad and Salman Rafique after their physical remand ended today. The NAB prosecutor requested the court to extend the physical remand of Khawaja brothers by 15 days.
The accountability court reserved its verdict on NAB's request but then extended the remand of the PML-N lawmakers till February 2.
Talking to newsmen outside court premises while commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Naeemul Haque's statement, Khawaja Saad Rafique said that production orders were not charity but our fundamental right.
“Even during former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf's regime production orders were issued,” he said.
The PML-N leader alleged that Naeemul Haque's statement reflected Prime Minister Imran Khan's stance. This is not a democratic attitude and Haque is hurting his party by issuing such statements," he added.
Terming the physical remand illegal, Saad said he was shocked that remands were being granted on someone's orders. "Jail terms cannot weaken us and those who oppress others will pay in this lifetime.” the PML-N leader stated.
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.