Daily Times

LAHORE: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has issued a defamation notice of Rs 5 billion to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Fawad Chaudhry, stating the latter levelled false allegations against him.

In a Tweet posted on Sunday, Khawaja Saad Rafique has demanded an unconditional apology from Fawad Chaudhry over his statements against the railway minister regarding the Paragon Housing Society.

During a news conference on Thursday, Chaudhry said the whole country knew Paragon Housing Society belonged to Saad Rafique. The PTI leader also called the railways minister a part of the land mafia, saying he had deprived the common people of their property.

Rafique has asked Fawad to prove the allegations or publically apologise within 14 days. The railways minister has said he would initiate legal proceedings against the PTI leader if he fails to do as stated.

In the notice, the railways minister has also stated that the Constitution allowed every person to protect their sanctity and that no one should level baseless allegations against anyone. These allegations against Rafique came at a time when government officials are being nabbed under scams related to housing schemes.

Recently, Lahore Development Authority former director general Ahad Cheema, was arrested for illegally awarding a contract worth billions to companies reportedly on the basis of nepotism.

Following Ahad Cheema’s arrest, a rift erupted between National Accountability Bureau and Punjab government officials, who demanded a suo motu notice be taken against the former director general’s arrest. According to PTI Chairperson Imran Khan, the Punjab government officials were petrified over Cheema’s arrest as they feared he would reveal names of bureaucrats to save himself.

However, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has said they would never support a corrupt officer and would take action against Cheema if solid evidence is brought forth against him.

Published in Daily Times, February 26^th 2018.