SC summons minister Saad Rafique to explain connections with Paragon, Twin Towers
LAHORE, (MILLAT ONLINE):The Supreme Court on Thursday
summoned Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique for March 10
to explain his connections with Paragon City (Lahore)
and Twin Towers at 1-Constitutional Avenue, Islamabad.
The court also summoned the National Accountability Bureau
(NAB) officer concerned to know about scope of investigations
in Paragon Housing Society case.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar,
Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan passed
these orders while hearing a suo motu notice regarding LDA
City Housing Scheme Lahore. The bench heard the matter
at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry.
As the proceedings began, Lahore Development Authority
(LDA) Director General Zahid Akhtar Zaman appeared before the
bench and submitted two separate reports regarding partner
companies and relevant laws which allow the LDA to
engage private firms for acquiring the housing
scheme land. He added that the authority was empowered
to engage private firms for the housing scheme under
Section-13 of the Lahore Development Authority (Amendment)
Ordinance besides other laws.
The director general admitted that the NAB was also
holding an inquiry into the LDA City case, in response to
a bench query.
To another court query, he submitted that the six
companies were selected for acquiring the LDA City land
but one company did not start its operation. Only five
companies actually took part in the process, he added.
However, Imtiaz Rafi Butt, an owner of Millennium Land
Company, explained that his company had also withdrawn itself
from the project.
The director general further apprised the bench about
partner companies and their owners, including Urban Developers,
Pak Estate and Paragon City. He submitted that he was trying
to get full details from the Security and Exchange Commission
of Pakistan about directors/owners of the Paragon City.
At this, the chief justice observed that it was
publicly known that Railways Minister Saad Rafique had
connections with Paragon City and Twin Towers. He should be
summoned to explain his position in this regard, the
CJP added.
The bench summoning the minister and the NAB officer
adjourned further hearing till March 10.