NAB finalises Paragon Housing reference against Khawaja brothers

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday finalised Paragon Housing Society scam reference against Khawaja brothers and Nadeem Zia, citing sources, ARY News reported.

Well aware sources said the reference has been sent to Chairman NAB Justice retired Javed Iqbal for the approval.

After chairman’s approval the reference would be filed in the NAB court against former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique his brother Salman Rafique and Nadeem Zia.

It is pertinent to mention that 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.

On Dec 11, NAB authorities had arrested former minster Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique after Lahore High Court (LHC) had turned down their bail plea in Paragon Housing Society scam. Both the brothers are main accused in the case and are currently under detention of the bureau.

Qaiser Amin Butt’s revelations

Back in the month of November, 2018, 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.