Rafique to face probe into locomotives purchase

Reference against Shehbaz Sharif to be filed in an accountability court this week


Our Correspondent December 18, 2018
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Khawaja Saad Rafique. PHOTO: PPI

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has initiated separate inquiries against Khawaja Saad Rafqiue and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique – both Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders – who are already in NAB’s custody in connection with a housing project scandal.

NAB started new inquiry against Saad, who was the railway minister during the last PML-N government, to probe into alleged purchase of expensive locomotive engines.

The new inquiry against Salman, who was Punjab health minister in the last provincial cabinet, is about alleged purchase of expensive infrastructure and medicines in the health department.

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Both the brothers were arrested last week in connection with the Paragon Housing Society case after the Lahore High Court refused to extend their pre-arrest bail. The brothers are accused of looting billions of rupees and defrauding public at large by initiating an illegal housing society.

NAB has also completed a reference against Shehbaz Sharif and investigations in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing scheme scam. The reference comprises at least 100 pages – containing details and evidence of the corruption purportedly committed by the accused persons. It will be filed this week before an accountability court judge.

The Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif is in Kot Lakhpat Jail on judicial remand. He is being probed by NAB to ascertain his role in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Society scam.

NAB also opened investigations against the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and independent power producers (IPPs) for allegedly collecting over Rs1,250 billion through overbilling.

It has decided to quiz higher-ups of these companies and entities like the National Power Parks Company (Ltd), Punjab Thermal Power (Ltd) and Quiad-e-Azam Thermal Power (Ltd) and to know why the tariffs were raised. It would also look into the matter of money trail of the over-billed amount.

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