The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has finalised the Paragon Housing Society scam reference against Khawaja brothers and Nadeem Zia, sources said on Friday.
They said the reference had been sent to NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal for approval. After the chairman’s approval, it 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 here that the NAB had launched an investigation into the allegations in November after a number of victims staged protests and held a press conference at the Lahore Press Club against, what they termed as, the housing society’s fraud.
On December 11, NAB authorities had arrested former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique after the Lahore High Court (LHC) had turned down their bail pleas in the case. The two are main accused in the case and currently under detention of the bureau.
In November 2018, Qaiser Amin Butt, a director of the Paragon Housing Society, was arrested, who agreed to become an approver and recorded his statement before the NAB chairman.
Sources privy to the matter said that Qaiser, a close friend of Khawaja Saad Rafique, revealed that the Paragon Housing Society was not approved by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), and Khawaja brothers 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.
Meanwhile, Accountability Court, Islamabad on Friday has reserved its judgment on Dr Baber Awan plea seeking his acquittal in Nandipur Power Project reference against him. Decision would be announce on April 30.
Accountability court judge Arshad Malik resumed the hearing on Dr Baber Awan petition for his acquittal in Nandipur Power Project.
During the hearing National Accountability Bureau prosecutor said before the court that the arguments he had produced in pervious hearings are enough now he did not want to give further arguments on former Law minister acquittal plea. To this accountability court judge reserve his judgment and said decision would be announce on April 30.
In Nandipur Power Project reference, National Accountability Bureau had nominated former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, former law minister Dr Baber Awan and others. Delay in Nandipur Power Project has caused the loss of Rs 27 billion to national exchequer.
