Court extends judicial remand of Khawaja brothers till April 4

LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday extended judicial remand of former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother former provincial minister Khawaja Salman Rafique till April 4 in Paragon City scam.

Accountability Court Judge Syed Najamul Hassan Bukhari conducted the proceedings wherein National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) officials produced Khawaja Salman Rafique.

The court inquired whether a National Assembly session was in progress after the jail officials submitted a report regarding Khawaja Saad Rafique. The officials replied that he was in Islamabad to attend the meeting of Law and Justice Committee of the National Assembly.

The court also expressed annoyance over the absence of investigation officer during the proceedings and ordered for ensuring his presence on the next hearing.

After hearing arguments of NAB prosecutor and defence counsel, the court adjourned further hearing till April 4 while extending judicial remand of Khawaja brothers.

Khawaja brothers' post-arrest bail petitions were pending before a Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench which would take up them on April 1.

Khawaja brothers were arrested on Dec 11, 2018 after an LHC division bench dismissed their pre-arrest bail petitions.

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

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

Meanwhile, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Waseem Akhtar issued notices for April 2 to Fawad Hassan Fawad in assets beyond means reference, filed against him.

The court also ordered for providing a copy of the reference to the accused, who was produced in the court by the bureau officials.

In the reference, the bureau accused Fawad of making assets worth Rs1.9 billion through illegal means. His assets included a five-kanal commercial plot valued at Rs500 million in Rawalpindi's Saddar area and he has shares in a 15-storey plaza in Saddar Rawalpindi area, it said and added that the accused had also made assets in the name of his family members.