Paragon Society case: Court extends Khwaja brothers’ judicial remand till 23rd

LAHORE: An accountability court on Monday extended judicial remand of former railways minister Khwaja Saad Rafique and former health minister Punjab Khwaja Salman Rafique till Dec 23 in Paragon Housing Society case.The Khwaja brothers were produced before the court on expiry of remand amid tight security. As the hearing commenced, Kh Saad Rafique requested the presiding judge Jawadul Hassan to allow him to speak, which was granted by the judge. He, while addressing the court, said he had been deprived of his right to an open trial. An open court trial is the right of every citizen, but his trial had been closed, Saad added. He said the court reporters were not allowed to cover the proceedings of his trial. He alleged that the police stop the media persons, lawyers and supporters from entering the courtroom.The court, after hearing Saad’s plea, issued orders directing police to allow reporters and lawyers to enter the courtroom. The judge told the police that if they could not manage the security, he would call in the rangers.Meanwhile, the court granted transit remand of Saad Rafique to attend a National Assembly session in Islamabad.As per reference details, one Qaiser Amin Butt, the main accused in the Paragon Housing scam, voluntarily confessed to his role in corruption and corrupt practices 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 and Salman, in connivance with Nadeem and Qaiser, 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 Khwaja 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 Khwaja brothers wrongfully received Rs18.2 million from Paragon City in their accounts. NAB stated that Kh Saad established a firm, namely Saadain Associates, and wrongfully gained Rs58 million from M/s Executive Builders. Also, Kh 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 Khwaja brothers owned 93.6 per cent shares of the Paragon City, while Qaiser Amin Butt owned 7.4 per cent shares of the project.

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