NAB arrests Khawaja Saad Rafique, brother in Paragon Housing Scandal case

LAHORE: Official from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday arrested Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique after Lahore High Court rejected their bail plea, ARY News reported.

The PML-N leader and his brother were arrested after the two-judge bench rejected their bail plea after hearing arguments from NAB prosecutor.

During the hearing, Saad Rafique’s counsel told the court that his client has nothing to do with Paragon Housing Society and is being framed in the case.

A large number of PML-N workers protested and raised pro-party slogans as Saad Rafique spoke to them outside the court against NAB officials’ advice.

NAB had launched an investigation into the alleged scam in November after a number of victims staged protests and held a press conference at the Lahore Press Club against what they termed housing society’s fraud.

The anti-graft authority had arrested former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Ahad Khan Cheema and others over allegations of corruption in Ashiana Iqbal Housing Society scam.

During investigations, it was revealed that Cheema had misused his authority and received huge sums of money in return for awarding the contract of the project to Casa Developers.

The amount was allegedly paid from the account of the Paragon Housing Society.

Qaiser Amin Butt’s revelations

Last month, Qaiser Amin Butt, a director of the Paragon Housing Society, was arrested and had agreed to become an approver and recorded his statement before the chairman NAB.

Sources privy to the matter informed ARY News that Qaiser, who is a close friend of Khawaja Saad Rafique, revealed that Paragon Society was not approved by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Khawaja brothers (Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique) were the beneficial owners of the housing scheme.

He further disclosed that Paragon City Director Nadeem Zia was responsible for all transactions and Khawaja brothers used to receive all money in cash, sources added.

Paragon Society was not approved by the Lahore Development Authority and Khawaja brothers were the beneficial owners of the society, Qaiser had revealed.