122 witnesses to testify in Paragon reference against Khawaja brothers
Proper trial against Khawaja brothers will be launched after Eid-ul-Fitr.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Dunya News on Saturday has obtained list of the witnesses who will record their statements in Paragon City reference against Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique.
According to the list, 122 witnesses including Paragon City’s director Qaisar Ameen Butt will appear before the court for testimonies. However, proper trial against Khawaja brothers will be launched after Eid-ul-Fitr.
Earlier, accountability court had extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique till June 13 in the Paragon Housing Society case.
On April 26, the NAB Lahore approved the filing of a reference against the Khawaja brothers and Nadeem Zia for the alleged corruption in the same case.
The decision was taken in a regional board meeting that was attended by NAB Lahore’s director general and other directors.
According to the handout, Qaiser Amin Butt, the director of Paragon Housing Society, was also included in the inquiry initiated by the NAB, and he was also arrested in November last year. Later, he agreed to turn approver against the Khawaja brothers and Zia.
Butt and Zia established a company “Air Avenue” in the year 2003; however the name was later changed to Paragon City private (Pvt) Limited.
On Feb 2, the court had rejected a request made by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for another extension in the physical remand of the Khawaja brothers in the case, and sent them on judicial remand.
On December 11, 2018, they were detained by the accountability watchdog after the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected their bail plea.
The NAB had launched an investigation into the alleged scam in November last year after a number of victims staged protests and held a press conference at the Lahore Press Club against what they termed the housing society’s fraud.
