- Minister wanted a ‘valuable piece of land’ on Burki Road
- Minister accepts LHC verdict with a ‘heavy heart’
- ‘Dubious’ Matters of Paragon City Lahore
- ‘Kickback’ in Import of Railway Track
- ‘Dubious Deal’ in Import of Chinese Engines
- A Curious Case of 150 Plots
By Kiran Bokhari
(Pak Destiny – Investigative Report) The real story behind closure of the famous Country Royal Palm Club (RP) is ‘a valuable piece of land’ which Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique wanted from its management, an insider in the Railways disclosed.
The RP management refused to ‘hand over’ the ‘valuable land comprising a couple of acres on Burki Road’ which it acquired of late.
“Since Saad Rafique has been in land and housing societies business for a long he through a ‘common friend’ conveyed his wish of getting the Burki Road land (where Rafique’s Paragon Housing Society located) as a ‘gift’ from the RP management. The RP owned by Ramzan Sheikh and company took little more time to oblige… and in a result this delay made them to pay a very heavy price,” the source said.
The furious Rafique ordered closure of the RP on June 24 without caring for the superior court’s order that the RP could not be closed even for a day.
The Pakistan Railways have been in litigation with the RP management since long over the lease and dues issues but this country might have never seen such an action by a PML-N federal minister against a public club which has more than 3,000 members who remained deprived of visiting the club for about two weeks.
Subsequently, the RP management moved the Lahore High Court which ordered handing back its management to the Sheikhs but let the railways cops stationed there till next hearing on Sept 1, 2016.
Ironically, Rafique accepted the LHC decision with a ‘heavy heart’ expressing his ‘reservation’ over the verdict.
It will be very interesting to see whether the Sheikhs now ‘oblige’ Rafique to stop him from the government machinery against them or the club in a different way or keep their faith in the country’s courts.
Dubious Matters of Paragon City Lahore
Khawaja Saad Rafique has substantial shares in the Paragon Housing Society on Burki Road. Since the acquisition of some ‘controversial land’ the National Accountability had initiated probe into it during the Musharraf regime. But the matter had been swept under the carpet since the last PPP regime.
Earlier it has been reported that Saad Rafique managed to ‘forcibly’ got vacated 10.5 Acres Railways land located at Singh Pura, GT Road, Lahore in order to make it part of his Paragon City Housing Society Lahore.
Insiders say the minister smartly exploited the orders of Supreme Court for vacating of the said encroached land of the railways because as he wanted to allot it to Paragon Housing Society.
But his plan could not be materialized because of the opposition from Arif Azeem, then secretary Railways. The minister taught Azeem a lesson by sending him on ‘forced’ leave sometimes ago. “The minister wanted to construct a complex of marriage halls at 10.5 Acres of land at Singh Pura, GT Road, Lahore,” a Railways insider told Pak Destiny.
There are reports that Khawaja Saad Rafique had also planned to lease out the land recovered from encroachers located at Mecleod Road, Lahore to Paragon Housing Society. “The minister also intends to lease out the recovered land of Railway at Karachi to local party of Karachi to get heavy amount as kickback,” the insider says.
Kickback in Import of Railway Track
The Railways insiders say during October/ November 2013, Khawaja Saad Rafique issued a tender notice of import of 40,000 tons of Railway Track and gave the contractor to ‘own favorite party’.
The insiders say all terms and conditions of above mentioned Tender of Railway Tack was made with the consent of the said party.
NAB authorities interfered into the import of 40,000 ton Railway Track and the matter is still pending with the bureau.
Walton Railway Academy Scam
The Railways minister had also planned to construct ‘Market Shops’ alongside 3km boundary wall of Walton Railway Academy, Lahore to his close people on cheaper rates to mint money. Walton also comes in the constituency of Saad Rafique.
The PC-1 has been made and forwarded to the chairman of the Railways.
‘Dubious Deal’ in Import of Chinese Engines
The insiders further inform that the railways’ had a dubious deal under Khawaja Saad Rafique to purchase of 58 x Railway Locomotives from China despite these locomotives were not better than the existing locomotive of Korean and Japanese origin.
The insiders say ‘huge kickback’ was involved in the deal. The matter requires thorough investigation by NAB.
A Curious Case of 150 Plots
The Imperial Garden Housing Society — located next to Paragon City Housing Society — has alleged that Khawaja Saad Rafique had occupied its 140/150 plots and declared them as one of the blocks of Paragon City.
Insiders said Shahid Butt, one of the owners of Imperial Garden Housing Society, had used NoC of Paragon Housing Society for his Imperial Garden Housing Society as initially he did not have NoC for the said scheme.
No investigation has been launched as yet over the alleged occupation of the property and office of Haji Rafique’s Housing Society at Barki road, Lahore. “The minister allegedly and pressurized Haji Rafique of Green City Housing Society through his political influence by getting registered FIRs against him. Consequently Haji Rafique was compelled to hand over/transfer his property and office. Haji Rafique is presently residing in Saudi Arabia,” the insiders say.
Ring Road Compensation Scam
There are also reports that M. Ayub alias Ayub Gara, one of the front men of Khawaja Saad Rafique, remained involved in getting compensation of land of ring Road Project at Sahjpal village located in Phase-VIII, DHA, Lahore.
Insiders say Ayub got compensation of about Rs45 million by getting transferred the land in his name, though DOR Lahore Zulfiqar Ghumman.”
“Rafique is reportedly patronizing the criminal gang of Ayub Gara and his brother-in-law Billu Bhatti, resident of village Sehjpal, Airport road, DHA, Lahore. Both the individuals are involved in number of cases of fraud and kidnapping for ransom.
How Khawaja Saad Rafique Made To This Level
After PML(N)’s coming to power in 2013, Khawaja Saad Rafique was given the portfolio of Federal Minister for Railways. However, from the outset, the voices of corruption/misuse of authority by Rafique echoed from different quarters. He is widely being discussed in the context of corruption, malpractices and abuse of power.
Khwaja Saad Rafique has risen through the cadres of PML under Nawaz Sharif in a span of 25 years which includes his stint as student leader of Muslim Students Federation in 1988-1990.
He has been elected thrice as MNA and once MPA in his political career. In the course of his political career he allegedly amassed huge wealth and assets through political influence and different tactics.
His political career started on a motorcycle in 1987, which was given by Ghulam Hyder Wyne, ex- CM Punjab. During those days his family was supported by Ch. Shujaat Hussain, chief of PMLQ, as he was orphaned in early age. Now he is believed to be a billionaire though he never disclosed the value of his actual assets in the Tax Returns.
This is a ‘classical example’ of this man’s journey from the ‘penniless to billionaire’ in such a short span of time. This is possible only through ‘illegal means’ anywhere in the world. As NAB has filed a Rs462billion corruption reference against PPP’s Dr Asim Hussain there are many chances that when this Nawaz regime is over, NAB may go after this man.
Pak Destiny welcomes Mr Rfique’s version to this report and will publish it accordingly. — Pak Destiny
Kamal hai yahan sab chalta hai
Royal palm management should have obliged Saad what’s wrong in handing a little more land to him
Vow from peeniless to billionaire. …. how many such examples are in Pakistan
this club should be opened for everyone
Why? It’s a privately owned club not a public park.
Anas Abbasi seems to be a socialist LOL
Its not a privately owned club. It was government property handed over to someone without due process of tendering
will NAB r FIA investigate these allegations
quite amazing that how our politicians can go to such extent for their personal gains.
Yeh *** baigairat jo Ch’s kei tukkrrou pei palaa barrha hei is so corrupt and his corrup’n was fully exposed by Mubashir Lucman but this *** never challenged ML. Now this *** is looting Railways like his baap ke jaiydaad nd feels no shame no haya because he’s baigairat of highest order
Ye to hal he govt ka.
This is so unfortunate that so called leaders are actually thieves, their only Job is lootmar in the country. Their is no law for them, they are at liberty to rob the nation as much as possible.
Are the all pakistani 100% honest and fair. None at at all. However he is doing good job despite all hurdles and blame. Ashafia cannot digest his good decisions which are improving the railways.
You mean to say he has the right to plunder and rob as an excuse for doing some good?
I don’t have any link with any party, criticize with logic without logic 2nd party doubtful.
Yes it be true or not as there is no evidence .
Can you please share documentary proof against the Minister. What does it men insider this and that why not you expose him with documentary proof otherwise it looks black mailing and yellow Journalism as it prevail in our society..
Pakistan Railways couldn’t run the railway it should join Saad Rafique in his bus transport racket.
From ten Marla house to bilioner a story of total corrupt politician Mr SaadRafique
NO MATTER WHAT ONE SAYS, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO THESE SCOUNDRELS
The club was given to cronies by Genl qazi who looted railways to the core in collision with musharraf.
Hope Supreme Court orders in favour of public.
The present club owners should pay the govt.
Sahi kia khwaja sb
Bilkul said rafique na thaik kay tha
And he accuses others as “land mafia”!!!
What about the 300 members of the old club. They should have been accommodated. The present owner should release the funds they owe to the railways. What’s wrong should be corrected.
No doubt ,Nawaz party is a corrupt party .Ishaq dar is imposing jagga tax day by day and nobody is there to stop him for this cruel act.They are looting pakistan.
I am also a victim of Khawaja saad rafique and railway.he sealed my property in badami bagh Lahore last August .since then I m suffering from high losses. Money gone reputation gone godown along Mobil oil worth 13million total record of my firm gone just b coz of this asshole called Khawaja saaf rafique if anyone wants to know more about this inbox me
Pakistan is a paradize for bribetakers, looteers, thugs, ghundas, landgrabbers, all sort of mafias and is haven for vulgar, pimps and prostitutes. These diseases are part and parcel of the masses life becuase there is no justic system in place and what kind of justice is availble it is available for those categories mentioned hereinabove.
Well done Pak destiny which has thoroughly exposed this corrupt man who is a looter & plunderer of Nawaz Sharif.
Not a shred of evidence in the whole article. Just hearsay and ‘confidential’ information from unknown sources.
How does the writer know what Saad Rafique is thinking of doing in the future?
Whether the Minister is corrupt or not, this kind of baseless allegation making is a completely useless exercise.
Do some homework, and real investigative journalism, find some evidence then publish articles.