Summons witnesses to present their testimonies against PML-N leaders. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: An accountability court on Wednesday rejected petitions of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders – Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique – to acquit them in a corruption case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Lahore’s accountability court Judge Jawadul Hassan on Monday reserved verdict on the applications after counsels for the accused concluded their arguments against NAB’s jurisdiction to file a reference against them.
Rafique’s counsels had argued that the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 – under which NAB operates – does not apply to disputes related to a private business. They said there was no allegation of corruption or misuse of national exchequer against the petitioners as public officeholders.
Khawaja brothers’ remand extended
The court on Wednesday unveiled its order, rejecting the applications and summoning witnesses to present their testimonies against the siblings in the next hearing. The court also remanded the PML-N leaders in NAB custody for another two weeks till Oct 30.
Talking to media present inside the court premises after the order, Khawaja Saad Rafique – who served as railways minister during the tenure of the PML-N government – said they would challenge the accountability court’s judgment in the high court.He said they have been running from pillar to post for the last two years for justice but have not been served justice and have been continually targeted in the name of accountability.
“Our sin is that our father contributed in the freedom movement and our mother laid down her life while we were opposing the dictatorial regime of General Pervez Musharraf,” he said.
He said they have been behind bars for the last eleven months but this is not the first time they have been jailed in their political career. “We can’t even think about corruption,” he added.
NAB arrested Saad Rafique and Salman Rafique on December 13, 2018 after the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected their applications for pre-arrest bails.
Ringleader of ‘twin brothers’ gang held for robbing Rawalpindi pharmacies
Sharing grounds for arrest of the siblings, NAB had said the arrest took place under section 09 A of 1999 NAB Ordinance in connection with their alleged involvement in a housing scam.
It said Saad Rafique in connivance with his wife Ghazala Saad Rafique, brother Salman Rafique, Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia started a housing project, Air Avenue.
“Later on, it [Air Avenue] was changed into M/s Paragon City (Pvt) Limited. Record showed that it was an illegal housing society. The accused persons in connivance with Nadeem Zia and Qaiser Amin Butt [two other accused] defrauded large members of the society.
“They also embezzled the illegal housing society projects funds for personal gains. The accused were collecting heavy amounts despite clear direction from the Lahore Development Authority,” it claimed.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ