Pakistans 'penniless ruling elites

ISLAMABAD - The details of the assets of Pakistans mainstream politicians submitted in the Election Commission of Pakistan reveal some eye-popping details. Majority of the wealthy ruling elites of the Upper House has not shown even one-third of its total assets in the returns submitted with ECP, it is learnt. Available with The Nation, the details of wealth returns of some powerful Senators reveal that they are no richer than any ordinary Pakistani. As per these details, the total assets of Leader of the House in Senate Nayyar Hussain Bukhari comprise a 1990 model car and 19 tolas of gold. Interestingly, he does not have any foreign account. Chaudhry Shujaat has two 'tiny houses worth Rs 5.2 million and Rs 3.4 million in Islamabad and Lahore respectively along with 90 acres of agriculture land. All he has is property of Rs 13.4 million. Not to forget that houses worth Rs 5.2 million and Rs 3.4 million are hard to find even in the low life areas of the federal and provincial capitals. It appears that Interior Minister Rehman Malik is living in simplicity too. He has a lavish house of 2.5 million pounds in England but is under debt of one million pounds. All he has in Pakistan is property worth Rs 10 million, of which, Rs 1.1 million form cash. Surprisingly, in the posh area of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Karachi, he has a 'small flat that worth only Rs six hundred thousand while even a small portion in that area costs in millions of rupees. The ECP record shows that Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh has a BMW car worth Rs 4.7 million, property to the tune of Rs 7.3 million and 2.5 million dirhams in Dubai. PPP Senator Mir Lashkari Raisani has wealth worth Rs 70 million that include 700 goats and 12 donkeys. Federal Law Minister Dr Babar Awan has property of Rs 250 million including cash of Rs 110.5 million cash. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Senator Ishaq Dar, in his assets submitted with the ECP, has only shown his entire wealth to be a Rs 40 million residence in Lahore. The assets details submitted by the Senators with ECP in no way match with their otherwise imperially lavish style of life. This is just an eyewash a hoodwink We never knew that those who travel in expensive vehicles and live in royal palaces like homes are actually so poor If the wealth returns submitted in ECP are authentic then where has all those luxuries come from? official sources deplored.

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