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ISLAMABAD: Declarations of assets submitted by the 14 MPAs representing the rich and poor of Rawalpindi district to the Election Commission of Pakistan put them in the category of the poor.
But their visible lifestyles, if not their invisible assets, would make their rich constituents green with envy, what to say of the poor. Who could believe the statements by some of the MPAs that they don't even own a car?
Zill-e-Huma, the only woman legislator elected on a general seat from PP-8 Taxila, of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), belongs to a rich family but her declared assets are 55 tola gold and only Rs59,684 in “hand/bank account”.
Ms Huma did not mention assets of her husband, Malik Umar Farooq, a former MPA.
The section 42A of the Representation of the People Act 1976, says, “Every member of an Assembly shall, on a prescribed Form, submit a statement of assets and liabilities of his own, his spouse and dependents annually to the Commission.”
However, Mr Farooq said there must be some confusion in the statement, adding that he belonged to a wealthy family and regularly pays tax. “I am a taxpayer. I and my brothers have many businesses. We have a goods transport company, petrol pump, CNG station, and plazas.”
As the listing of Punjab Assembly seats starts from Rawalpindi district, Raja Fiaz Sarwar of PML-N from PP-1, Murree - Kotli Satian, is a man of property - most of which he has inherited.
Apart from owning land in Ghora Gali and other areas of Murree, Tarnol, Rawalpindi, Vehari and a house in F-7 Islamabad, he has inherited a shopping centre, hotel, petrol pump and land of Naz Cinema, which has been demolished. A plaza has been built in its place.
Mr Sarwar belongs to an old political family of Rawalpindi. His uncle, Raja Ghulam Sarwar, remained MPA of West Pakistan during 1962-65 and 1965-69. His cousin, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, was member of the Punjab Assembly for four consecutive terms from 1988 to 1999 and also served as minister.
Despite all the wealth Raja Fiaz has no cash in banks or in hand. He owns a Lancer 2005 and 45 tola gold.
MPA from PP-2, Rawalpindi-II, Kahuta-Kalar Seydan, Lt Col (retired) Mohammad Shabbir Awan of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has a house in DHA Islamabad, a plot in DHA Karachi and a flat in F-10 Islamabad. The total worth of these properties is Rs30.5 million.
According to the statement of assets, he has no property in the “ancestral place”. He owns a 2007 model car valued at Rs800,000, 20 tola gold worth Rs600,000 and Rs165,000. However, Mr Shabbir has furniture and other articles of personal use worth Rs4 million.
PPP's MPA Raja Tariq Kiani from PP-3 (Rawalpindi-III) has eight properties in Gujar Khan and Rawalpindi worth Rs42 million. He has a 2004 model car worth Rs700,000, jewellery worth Rs600,000, prize bonds worth Rs400,000 and Rs600,000 in banks.
PML-Q's MPA Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti from PP-4 (Rawalpindi-IV) Gujar Khan, lives in Chaklala Scheme No.3. He has six properties worth Rs7.2 million and income of Rs1.65 million from various businesses. His wife has gold worth Rs1.6 million.
The PML-Q MPA from PP-5, Kalar Sayedan-Rawat, Engineer Qamar-ul-Islam Raja owns a 1988 Prado, property worth Rs7.2 million and businesses and educational institutes valued at Rs3.5 million. His cash holding amounts to Rs10.24 million.
Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal of the PML-N from PP-6 Dhamyal – Jhanda has inherited 100 kanals land but it is under litigation. Nephew of Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, his other assets include 11.5 kanal plots and businesses valued at Rs26.3 million. He has a 2005 Toyota Vigo, Rs0.6 million in banks, and his wife owns 20 tola gold. Mohammad Shafiq Khan of PML-Q from PP-7, Taxila, has property worth Rs17.4 million and businesses worth Rs2.5 million.
Brother of former federal minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, he has Rs4.08 million in banks, owns a Land Cruiser, but he has liabilities of more than Rs44.79 million to clear.
PML-N's Chaudhry Mohammad Ayyaz from PP-9, Rawalpindi Cant, has two houses and agriculture land worth Rs4.44 million. His prize bonds and cash in banks amount to Rs0.39 million. He also owns a 2008 model car.
The MPA from PP-10, Chor Rawalpindi, Malik Iftikhar Ahmed of PML-N has inherited four properties. His net wealth, including the gold possessed by wife and cash holdings, amounts to Rs5.44 million.
PML-N's Ziaullah Shah from PP-11, Khyaban-i-Sir Syed, has a house valued at Rs15 million, business and agriculture property worth Rs10.5 million. His wife has 50 tola gold but he has no car and a negligible amount in bank. The MPA has to pay Rs6.5 million to banks against loans.
Shehryar Riaz of PML-N from PP-12, Ratta Amral, has family land in Sheikhupura and a business valued at Rs6.9 million. But he has only Rs12,900 in bank account. His wife has gold worth Rs1.8 million.
However, Malik Ghulam Raza of PML-N from PP-13, Rawalpindi City, has huge family properties in Punjab amounting to Rs161.64 million. He also has Rs1.1 million cash in hand, 50 tola gold and two cars valued at Rs2.20 million.
The family residence and property of PML-N's Raja Abdul Hanif Advocate from PP-14 Pindora - Asghar Mall is valued at Rs2.5 million. Assets in his law firm are estimated at Rs150,000, as his wife has 25 tola gold. Raja Hanif has Rs67,000 in banks.
