Khawaja Saad Rafique’s remand extended

LAHORE: An accountability court on Monday extended judicial remand of former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and former provincial minister Khawaja Salman Rafique until January 13 in Paragon Housing Society case. Khawaja Saad while appearing before the court stated that he had appeared before the court in an injured condition as last night a fire broke out in his barrack. He complained that jail authorities take him to Islamabad on daily basis to attend National Assembly session which is unbearable for his health. He implored the court to direct jail authorities to keep him in Islamabad until the end of session. However, the court after hearing Saad’s plea allowed his transit remand. The court also directed authorities to submit a written reply regarding health of Qaiser Amin Butt who is an approver in the case. Previously, the court had announced that confessional statement of Qaiser Amin would be opened in his presence. As per reference details, one Qaiser Amin Butt, the main accused in the Paragon Housing scam, voluntarily disclosed the facts related to the commission of offence and requested for pardon under Section 26 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (NAO 1999), which was granted by the competent authority.

The NAB filed reference against Kh Saad Rafique, Kh Salman Rafique, Nadeem Zia Pirzada, his son Umer Zia and Farhan Ali. NAB stated in the reference that Saad Rafique, in connivance with his wife Ghazala Saad Rafique, brother Salman Rafique, Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia, started a housing project namely Air Avenue, which was an illegal housing society.

Later, it was converted into M/s Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd. Saad Rafique and Salman Rafique, in connivance with Nadeem Zia and Qaiser Amin Butt, defrauded a large number of members of the housing society. Saad opened a company, Executive Builders, in his and his wife’s name, and later converted it into Paragon and withdrew a large sum of amount from the account of Executive Builders. The Khawaja brothers embezzled the funds of illegal housing society for personal gains, and collected heavy amounts despite clear directions from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) that the society was illegal. Moreover, the Khawaja brothers wrongfully received Rs18.2 million from Paragon City in their accounts. NAB further stated that Kh Saad Rafique established a firm, namely Saadain Associates, and wrongfully gained Rs58 million from M/s Executive Builders. Also, Salman Rafique established a firm namely KSR Associates, and wrongfully gained Rs39 million from M/s Executive Builders, which was a proxy concern of M/s Paragon City. NAB claimed that Khawaja brothers owned 93.6 percent shares of the Paragon City, while Qaiser Amin Butt owned 7.4 percent shares of the project.