IHC rejects Saad Rafiq's protective bail plea
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ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday rejected the petition of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique seeking protective bail in view of arrest threat by NAB in a private housing society scam.
A divisional bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Moshin Akhtar Kayani announced the judgment which was earlier reserved after hearing arguments from the petitioner side. Khawaja Saad Rafiq and his brother Suleman Rafiq appeared before the court.
During the hearing, the bench remarked why the petitioner did not approach the Lahore High Court (LHC) to seek relief against NAB.
The counsel for petitioner Khawaja Kamran Murtaza replied that his client could be arrested before reaching the LHC bench. He argued that Khawaja Saad Rafique was appearing in the coming by-polls scheduled on October 14. Justice Aamir Farooq remarked that the court was not responsible for the election.
The bench initially reserved its decision and later rejected the plea while announcing the verdict.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been probing Rafique in connection with an inquiry into a private housing scheme scam. The PML-N leader has also been summoned by the anti-graft body several times for questioning in the case.
In his plea, Saad Rafique had stated that he was never a director or shareholder of the Paragon Housing Scheme. He prayed the court to direct the bureau not to arrest him for two weeks.
APP
