Several Pakistani politicians have submitted their assets details with the election commission and voters are unclear about the wealthiest among them all. Well, an independent candidate from Muzaffargarh has emerged from nowhere to take the title.
An independent candidate contesting from NA-182 and PP-270 in Muzaffargarh has declared around Rs403 billion in assets, it emerged on Saturday.
An independent candidate contesting from NA-182 and PP-270 in Muzaffargarh has declared around Rs403 billion in assets, it emerged on Saturday.
The candidate, Mohammad Hussain Shaikh son of former MPA Sheikh Fazal Hussain, claims that he owns land comprising almost 40 per cent of Muzaffargarh city as well as the Lang Malana, Taliri, Chak Taliri and Lutkaran areas.
He claims that the land had previously been disputed, but a Supreme Court bench comprising the chief justice, Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Umar Atta Bandial recently decided in his favour in a case that had went on for around 88 years.
While talking to South Punjab News, Shaikh said that the land owned by him was worth approximately Rs403.11 billion. His nomination papers, a copy of which is available with South Punjab News, also state the worth of the previously disputed land at between Rs300 and Rs400 billion, in addition to other pieces of land valued in tens of millions of rupees.Alarmingly, the candidate despite possessing a large amount of money didn’t pay any tax.
In his affidavit, Hussain said he had 350 acres land, gardens, three houses and household appliances. The candidate said that political representatives contest elections while concealing their assets and deceiving the public.
He said he had revealed his assets with complete honesty. The man also appealed the chief justice of Pakistan to order probing assets of all politicians of the country.
Shaikh is now the richest candidate according to details of assets declared in the nomination papers that have come forward so far.
Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari have all declared assets worth hundreds of millions of rupees. PML-N's Amir Muqam and PPP's Arbab Alamgir have also declared assets worth billions.
Hina Rabbani Khar and Jamshed Dasti also belong to the same constituency where Hussain is contesting from.
Hamza Shehbaz has also declared his assets worth Rs 410 million, making him richer than his father Mian Shehbaz Sharif who declared his assets with a total value of Rs 159 million.
Similarly, the total value of assets owned by Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is also higher than his father Asif Ali Zardari’s. Bilawal owns Rs 1.5 billion, according to the ECP, while Mr. Zardari’s assets amounts to Rs 758.6 million.
