Bail pleas of Khwaja brothers: NAB seeks time to file additional documents

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday sought more time to file additional documents on the bail pleas of Khwaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Maqbool Baqir, heard former Railways minister Khwaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique's appeals against the Lahore High Court (LHC), which had rejected their bails in the corruption case. At the onset of the proceedings, the NAB requested the bench to grant more time as it had to file additional documents regarding the matter.

Justice Baqir questioned what documents you want to submit in the court, adding that in the last hearing they had issued notice to file a reply on the Khwaja brothers' appeal against the LHC order.

The NAB lawyer told that he wanted to place a detailed report of the so far investigation made in the Paragon scandal case. Justice Mazhar Alam Mian Khel inquired whether the reference against Khwaja Saad Rafique and Salman Rafique has been filed.

The counsel replied that the NAB had filed a reference against Khwaja brothers and indicted both of them in the Paragon Housing Scheme scandal.

The bench directed the NAB to provide copies of the report and charge-sheets to both of the accused three days before the next hearing. The case is adjourned for one week.

According to the NAB, Khwaja 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 as 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 kanal lands in his and his brother's names, which he used to extend the project illegally and sold commercial plots worth billions of rupees.

On February 11, an accountability court, Lahore issued an arrest warrant for Qaiser Amin Butt, the director of Paragon Housing Society and the primary accused person in the Paragon City Housing reference who has turned witness for the prosecution against the Khwaja brothers.