National Assembly has ten declared billionaires by ECP

ISLAMABAD: As many as 10 out of the total 342 members of the National Assembly have declared that they own assets worth over a billion rupees, according to a statement of assets held by MNAs for year 2008 released by the Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday.

They include 4 members from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), two from its ally Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) — both sons of the Chaudhrys of Gujrat — two from the PML-N and one each from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP).

According to the statement of assets and liabilities of the MNAs, Ihsan Bajwa, PML-N MNA from Bahawalnagar, is the richest among the lawmakers having total assets worth more than Rs 3 billion, excluding liabilities of Rs 1.18 billion in the UAE. He has huge business capital of Rs 56.4 million dirhams, nine houses and one building in the UAE. The value of his agricultural property in Pakistan comes to Rs 249.5 million. He also owns commercial and residential properties valuing Rs 92.5 million.

Arbab Umar Amir Ayub, PTI MNA from NA-28 (Peshawar), owns assets  worth over 2.56 billion. He owns 28 properties including plots and poultry farms valuing Rs 2.41 billion and holds Rs 12.49 million in seven bank accounts

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is also on the list of declared billionaires having assets worth Rs 1.54 billion — most of which are abroad.

Chaudhry Salik Hussain of the PML-Q, son of former interim prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, is also on the list, with the worth of his assets put at Rs 1.60 billion. He holds millions of shares in different industrial groups and Rs 410 million in bank accounts.

PML-Q MNA from NA-69 (Gujrat) Moonis Elahi, son of Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, owns assets worth Rs 1.43 billion.

Najib Haroon, PTI’s MNA from NA-256 (Karachi), owns assets of Rs 1.54 billion. He has business capital of Rs 1.34 billion and properties worth Rs 68.17 million. He has Rs 36.21 million cash in hand and banks and owns four vehicles valuing Rs 42.39 million.

Other billionaires in the National Assembly include Mohammad Yaqoob Sheikh, PTI MNA from Dera Ismail Khan; Amir Haider Azam Khan Hoti, ANP MNA from NA-21 (Mardan); Noorul Hasan Tanveer, PML-N lawmaker from NA-169 (Bahawalnagar); and Minister for Power Omar Ayub, PTI MNA from NA-17 (Haripur).