NAB re-summons Saad Rafique, brother in private housing society case

ISLAMABAD - The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has once again summoned Federal Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique and his younger brother, Punjab Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique, in connection with the Paragon Housing Scheme case.

The elder Rafique has been asked to appear before the accountability watchdog on June 21, whereas Salman has been asked to appear the following day.

The anti-corruption bureau had launched an investigation in November last year into a mega land scam involving Paragon Housing Society in Lahore - believed to be owned by Saad Rafique - and the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).

The bureau had sought the record of Ashiana Iqbal Lahore from PLDC as a contract agreement was signed between the department and Anhui Construction Engineering Group owned by Director Paragon Exchange, Ali Sajjad.

In April this year, NAB’s Lahore chapter sought an explanation from the Rafique duo regarding the exchange of their 50-Kanal piece of land with 'developed plots' measuring 40 Kanal in Paragon Housing Society through an agreement.

Saad Rafique had earlier appeared before the NAB Lahore office in March and had expressed that he answered all the questions. He also slated the accountability procedure opted by NAB and highlighted the efforts of the incumbent regime for the uplift of the country.

The Railways minister had also appeared before the apex court, wherein he denied having any links with the private housing society in question.