Khawaja brothers’ hearing adjourned

LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of Paragon City reference against former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique till September 23. Accountability Court Judge Syed Jawadul Hassan conducted the reference proceedings, wherein, Khawaja brothers were produced on expiry of their judicial remand term. During the proceedings, representing Khawaja Salman Rafique, Advocate Amjad Pervaiz submitted that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had already filed the reply to his client’s application challenging jurisdiction of the bureau and the court in the matter. He argued that neither the bureau had the power to investigate the case nor the court had the authority to hear it. He submitted that Paragon City was a private limited company and it was established for launching a housing society whereas the bureau did not have the powers to investigate such matters. He submitted that if a company was involved in fraud then investigations could be held against such a company under Companies Act 2017. The court after hearing the arguments adjourned further hearing till September 23 and directed the parties for advancing further arguments, on the next date of hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2019.