LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday set Aug 8 for indictment of former railways minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq and his brother ex-provincial minister Khwaja Salman Rafiq in Paragon City scam.

During the Tuesday hearing, the Khwaja brothers were given copies of the reference made by the National Accountability Bureau.

A NAB prosecutor told the court that punitive proceedings against three absconders — Nadeem Zia, Umar Zia and Farhan Ali — had also been initiated.

Presiding judge Jawadul Hassan extended judicial remand of the Khwaja brothers and directed the jail officials to produce them again on Aug 8 for indictment.

On his return to jail, Khwaja Saad talked to the media and said the successful strike by traders proved that the masses were not happy with the policies of the government. He said for the first time in history, the traders observed a massive strike without a supervision of any political party.

He also condemned the PTI government for impeding production orders of opposition leaders.

The NAB alleged that the Khwaja brothers through their “benamidars” and with the abetment of former MPA Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia established a housing project in the name of Air Avenue.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2019