PAKISTAN'S RICH POLITICIANS OF POOR COUNTRY

Richest and poorest senators: Country’s leaders divided between rich and poor
Swati appears to be richest senator with billions of rupees in assets * JUI-F senator among poorest leaders with Rs 30,000 in account......
ISLAMABAD: The returns filed before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by the country’s senators have revealed a glaring contrast among the country’s leaders, as some have declared themselves in crippling debt, while others have declared assets worth billions of rupees.

Jamiat-e-Ulema-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator and Science and Technology Minister Azam Swati appears to be the richest with properties worth billions of rupees abroad. In his details, Swati has declared immovable assets of Rs 247.60 million in Pakistan and $1.640 million in the US. He also has two under-construction towers in the UAE that have been valued at 12 million dirhams and property worth 8 million UAE dirhams. He also owns millions of dollars and other foreign currency accounts in foreign and local banks. However, he has liabilities of $1.1 million payable to US banks as loans.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Ishaq Dar is also among the declared wealthy senators. His immovable property in Pakistan is estimated at Rs 49.50 million, while he owns a villa in the UAE valued at 7.04 million dirhams. His movable assets include four vehicles; two of them Mercedes. He also has millions in movable assets of investments and bank accounts. There is no liability on Dar.

Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Javed Ashraf Qazi has declared immovable properties worth Rs 19.1 million in addition to Rs 6.090 million movable properties. He also has deposits worth millions in local and foreign currency accounts. Senator Talha Mahmood of the JUI-F has declared immovable property, including three houses and a plot at Rs 500 million with Rs 114 million in movable assets. His liabilities stand at Rs 150 million. PML-Q Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed has declared Rs 35,000 in his own assets while the remained of property, including 50 acres of agricultural land; 600 yards plot and a luxury house in Islamabad are either owned by his wife or shared by his two brothers. A Suzuki car worth 0.3 million is also owned by his wife.

JUI-F Secretary General Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has a house and plot worth Rs 0.4 million and 0.15 million, respectively along with furniture valued at Rs 0.1 million only. He has declared no other assets.

Ratna Bhagwandas Chawla, a female senator elected on the minorities seat, has no immovable property. However, she has loans and advances worth Rs 147 million. She possesses Rs 2.409 million in her bank accounts and deposits.

Poorest: Senator Maulana Gul Naseeb is also amongst the poorer members, with only Rs 30,000 in his bank account. He has no other movable or immovable property