LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau has arrested the director of the Paragon City Housing Project in connection with a mega corruption case.
The latest arrest comes as the anti-corruption authority widens the scope of investigations involving major corruption cases surfaced in Punjab. Also, this arrest will further complicate the case of Khawaja Brothers who are already facing NAB inquiries with regard to Paragon City scam.
Qaiser Amin Butt, also former member of the Punjab Assembly, was arrested from Interior Sindh province when he was trying to reach Sukkur airport to flee the country.
“(The) National Accountability Bureau Lahore has arrested an accused namely Qaiser Amin Butt, Director Paragon City (Pvt) Limited who is allegedly involved in the commission of offence of corruption and corrupt practices in connivance with co-accused Nadeem Zia and others,” an official of the anti-graft authority said on Wednesday.
According to a press statement released by Lahore NAB, accused Qaiser Amin Butt in connivance with Nadeem Zia and other launched an illegal housing scheme known as “Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd” in 2005 on the basis of forged and fabricated documents along with alleged approvals from TMA Aziz Bhatti Town.
“In 2013, all TMA approved housing schemes were transferred to Lahore Development Authority. However, record of the Paragon Housing Scheme was intentionally not shifted to LDA by the accused persons. Paragon City Housing Society has, so far, no approval from LDA. Thus, Director Qaiser Amin Butt being the beneficial owner is running the said housing scheme, unlawfully.”
According to Lahore NAB, accused Qaiser Amin Butt being Director of the M/s Paragon City “aided, connived, assisted, and abetted accused Nadeem Zia and others in commission of offences of cheating public at large and misappropriation of funds collected from general public at large in addition to that subsequent diversion of funds for setting up new business concerns for their personal gains.”
