Court extends judicial remand of Khawaja brothers till May 16

LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday extended judicial remand of former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother former provincial minister Khawaja Salman Rafique in Paragon City scam, till May 16.

Accountability Court Judge Syed Najamul Hassan Bukhari conducted the proceedings and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials produced Khawaja Salman Rafique in the court.

The officials stated that Khawaja Saad Rafique was in Islamabad to attend the National Assembly session, in response to a court query.

After hearing arguments of the parties, the court adjourned further hearing till May 16, while extending the judicial remand of Khawaja brothers.

Khawaja brothers' post-arrest bail petitions were pending before a Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench. The accused were arrested on Dec 11, 2018 after an LHC division dismissed their pre-arrest bail pleas.

The bureau had alleged that Khawaja brothers launched Paragon City housing project through their "benamidars". The Paragon City was an illegal society and not approved by the Lahore Development Authority, it added.

The bureau further alleged that the accused, along with other accomplices, cheated the public at large and obtained illegal financial benefits from the funds of the society.