Khawaja brothers' judicial remand extended until May 2

LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday extended judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique in Paragon Housing Society scam case.

The incarcerated Khawaja brothers were produced before the accountability judge on completion of their previous 14-day judicial remand.

Speaking to journalists on the premises of the court, Saad Rafique asked the PTI government to stop “subjecting opposition politicians to political vendetta”.

“It is up to institutions to conduct accountability. The government should focus on the country’s economy and development,” he said, adding the government just wanted to gag opponents’ voice.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested the Khawaja brothers from Lahore High Court (LHC) premises on last year in December when their request for an extension in pre-arrest bail in the case was rejected.

According to NAB, Khawaja 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 to Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd.

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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 kanals of land in his and his brother’s name, which he used to extended the project illegally and sold commercial plots worth billions of rupees.