Assets show Aziz among wealthiest in parliament

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is among the wealthiest members of parliament with assets in and outside Pakistan valued at approximately Rs500 million (Dh30.1 million), a private TV channel reported yesterday quoting statements filed with the Election Commission.

Under the law MPs are required to submit statements of assets to the commission every year. The quoted statements for the year 2005-06 have now been notified.

It is generally believed that most MPs have under-declared their assets, as is usually the case in Pakistan, to evade taxes, the Geo report said.

The report added most of the known rich own no car in their names, although they are often seen driving the latest high-powered jeeps. However, the prime minister does own a car.

The prime minister has no financial liability. His assets are just like hard cash as these are prime properties, the channel said. He had a Honda Civic car that cost him Rs1,087,500 but its present value has declined to Rs600,000.

Former prime minister and ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's assets are valued at Rs125 million, almost one-fourth of what the premier has.

Shujaat, who has no car in his or his spouse's name, has Rs88,820,000 as cash in hand. His spouse's jewelery is valued at Rs600,000.

Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali owns assets worth Rs11,200,000. He also doesn't own a car.

Generally believed to be one of the richest men of Pakistan, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar has assets of just Rs32,844,424.

Humayun and his wife have approximately Rs5,300,000 as cash in hand.

Muttahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) religious alliance president Qazi Hussain has assets worth Rs13,300,000, with Rs200,000 cash in hand.

MMA secretary-general and opposition leader in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman is relatively poor according to his statement of assets. He has a one-fifth share in a Dera Ismail Khan house, another house in the same city and a plot valued at Rs500,000.