Khawaja brothers arrested in Paragon city scam

LAHORE, Dec 11 (APP):The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday arrested Pakistan Muslim League-N leaders,Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique, after a Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench dismissed their pre-arrest bail petitions in Paragon City Housing scam.

The division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Tariq Abbasi and Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf heard the bail petitions, filed by both the accused.
As proceedings commenced, both the leaders, who had been on interim bail till Tuesday, along with their counsel Azam Nazir Tarar and Amjad Pervaiz appeared before the bench.
NAB Deputy Prosecutor General (DPG) Khaleeq-uz-Zaman submitted that grounds for arrest of both brothers had been submitted in accordance with the court directions, whereas the NAB chairman had disposed of an application by the Khawaja brothers for change of investigation against them, with a direction that no step would be taken without his permission in the matter.
However, Azam Nazir Tarar, on behalf of the Khawaja brothers, submitted that NAB had not provided grounds for the arrest to the petitioners, which was mandatory. He requested the bench for provision of the same and requested the bench to adjourn the matter.
At this, the bench observed that the matter could not be adjourned any longer as the NAB chairman had decided the application, whereas the grounds for arrest had also been provided.
“It was not mandatory that the grounds for the arrest should be provided to the petitioners at this stage. The court had sought the grounds for its perusal,” the bench added.
NAB DPG also submitted that the grounds for the arrest could only be provided to the accused at time of arrest, as per law.
However, the counsel again requested for adjournment of the matter for submission of arguments.
To this, the bench expressed willingness to adjourn the matter till Dec 13, but observed that both defence counsel would be available to argue the matter on the day.
To which, Tarar withdrew his request and sought permission for submission of final arguments by Amjad Pervaiz in the case, which was allowed by the bench.
Amjad submitted that NAB had claimed that Saad Rafique and Salman Rafique were real owners of Paragon City and they were running the society through benamidars. He further submitted that it was also alleged that both brothers illegally exchanged land with the society besides receiving Rs 100 million from
executive builders. He submitted that all allegations against his clients were baseless and NAB had failed to provide even an iota of evidence against them.
He said that both brothers did not had any link with the Paragon Society. He submitted that both brothers were running advertisement and marketing companies and received Rs 100 million as marketing and advertisement fee from the Executive builders in five years. He submitted that the amount was shown in petitioners’ tax returns as well.
To a court query, he submitted that the petitioners exchanged 50-kanal land with Paragon Society and also paid Rs 30 million on account of development charges. He pleaded with the court to grant pre-arrest bail to both brothers as they were being victimised politically.
However, NAB DPG pleaded with the court to dismiss the bail petitions, saying that no political victimisation was being done as the inquiry was started against the brothers when they were part of the provincial and federal governments.
He argued that NAB chairman authorised an inquiry against the brothers, who was a former judge and had no personal interests in the case.
He submitted that owner of the Green Housing Society, Shahid Butt and Qaisar Amin Butt, had admitted that Khawaja brothers were real owners of the Paragon society.
He further submitted that the petitioners received various amounts from Paragon society while submitting record of transactions.
He further submitted that the accused failed to justify Rs 100 million transferred to their accounts. He questioned the services being provided by the Khawaja brothers and the persons who hired them for the purpose.
To a court query, he argued that Salman Rafique gave nine-kanal land to Paragon society in exchange for 20-kanal plots, which was a dubious matter.
After hearing arguments of both parties, the bench dismissed pre-arrest bail petitions of both brothers, observing that no grounds were available for grant of pre-arrest bail in the case.
Both brothers had filed the bail petitions saying that National Accountability Bureau had initiated various inquiries against them. They submitted that they were completely cooperating in investigations and they had furnished all the required record to the bureau interrogators. But, despite that there was a possibility that the interrogators might arrest them, they added. They pleaded with the court to grant them
pre-arrest bail.
It is pertinent to mention that Khawaja Salman Rafique was involved in Paragon City scam only, whereas Khawaja Saad Rafique was involved in Paragon as well as Railway and Ashiana scams also, as per NAB report submitted in the court earlier.
NAB had issued arrest warrants of both brothers in Paragon scam.