Prime Minister of Pakistan — The Richest Parliamentarian

Zeeshan Javaid,

Correspondent (Asia — South)

 

ISLAMABAD — The atomic power of South Asia region Pakistan, where public is compelled to live under poverty line, the premier of the country, Nawaz Sharif, has been officially declared as the richest parliamentarian of the country, owing net assets worth $17.279 million.

Economic experts and watch dog agencies working in Pakistan termed this figure less than the actual net assets of country’s powerful industrialist family. How can it possible the true picture of Premier assets, which was declared officially rather than the fact that the Premier of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif has been resided in Raiwind, spread over more than two million Sq ft. itself the worth of hundreds of million dollars.

The official declaration revealed that the premier of Pakistan wealth includes his agricultural land valuing $42.059 million, but there is no mention of his assets abroad. The Prime Minister has four vehicles registered in his name including a ‘tractor’ for agricultural purposes. The other three vehicles are Toyota Land Cruiser (model 2010), Mercedes Benz (1991) and Mercedes Benz (1973).

Interesting details have come to light with the issuance of the annual wealth details of the elected representatives by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), with traditionally clear fluctuations detected in this year’s assets of legislators compared to those of the previous year.

According to details released by the commission, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is the richest lawmaker with declared assets worth $17.279. Jamshed Dasti the lawmaker from one of the backward area of Southern Punjab takes the last place, having the least amount of assets, with only his salaried bank account.
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif submitted his wealth details with the ECP for the first time since he was not a legislator in the previous assemblies nor was he a member of the parliament in 2002 when the practice of submission of wealth details on part of parliamentarians was first envisaged.
The former Captain of Pakistan cricket team and chief of Pakistan Tahreek-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan was also not a parliamentarian in the previous assemblies (2008-13) and his record for the specified time period is not available with the ECP. As per fresh statement, Khan’s entire wealth including his lands, vehicles and related properties is counted only at less than $5,387.

PTI chief’s has two dollar, one pound and one euro bank accounts in federal capital of Pakistan. Khan’s lands in federal capital Islamabad, Provincial capital of Punjab Lahore, Southern Punjab belt Mianwali, Bhakkar are all inherited or ‘gifted’. There is no specific mention of his lavish mansion-like bungalow located in Banigala Islamabad. He has a Toyota Prado.

Interior Minister of Pakistan, Ch Nisar Ali’s statement shows an increase of six kanals in his wife’s land compared to last year. He has 3.389 million Sq Ft. of land in his name, 1.732 million square feet in his wife’s, while .861 million square feet 1.692 million sq ft. in his daughter’s name. Last year, the land registered in his wife’s name was 1.732 million sq ft.

Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, son of provincial chief minister Punjab assets has shown an increase of $0.379 million. His net wealth this year is $2.367 million compared to last year’s $1.988 million while he is still ‘car-less’ i.e. no automobile is registered in his name.
The Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, one of the most populated province of Pakistan officially owns a Toyota Land Cruiser, his wife Nusrat Shahbaz has a Honda Civic and his second wife Tehmina Durrani has a Honda Civic and a Suzuki Alto.

Image Courtesy: By DoD photo by R. D. Ward [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons