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Amid lax ECP laws, PTI declares assets
While its focus is transparency, lack of verification may render the exercise redundant.
While its focus is transparency, lack of verification may render the exercise redundant. PHOTO: EXPRESS / FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Senior leaders of the self-declared campaigners against corruption – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – declared their assets on their official website. PTI also submitted its annual statement of accounts to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday. All political parties are bound to submit details of their annual earnings and expenses to the commission by August 29.
Interestingly, the data provided by PTI’s leadership often contradicted statements filed with the ECP in the past.
While PTI has made several public announcements with regard to its priority to remain transparent, loopholes in the ECP’s policy mean that proving the authenticity of statements, whether from PTI or any other party, remain problematic. Under the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1976, if a member submits a statement of assets and liabilities which is found to be false, he may be proceeded against for committing the offence of corrupt practice.
Under section 42A of the RPA, every member shall submit a statement of assets and liabilities of his own, his spouse and dependents annually to the commission by September 30 each year.
Former ECP secretary Kanwar Dilshad said lawmakers always made a mockery of ECP’s lax laws regarding assets declaration. “A paradigm shift is needed to revise the RPA to make the system more transparent,” he observed.
PTI’s declarations
Former lawmaker Jahangir Tareen, who submitted his annual assets as being worth Rs222 million last year, claimed that his assets were now worth Rs3.2 billion. The declaration was posted on PTI’s official website.
Tareen said he could not submit the asset statements of his dependents to the ECP last year. “Now I’ve declared my complete assets; including my children’s,” he told The Express Tribune. He added that the key issue in politics was payment of taxes, which he did every year. Tareen’s children own assets worth Rs1.5 billion and stock shares worth Rs922 million. Tareen also owns two plots in Islamabad and Changla Gali worth Rs173 million. According to the PTI website, he paid Rs49.7 million in taxes over the last three years.
PTI chairman Imran Khan himself did not mention the market value of his around 1,644 kanals of inherited land, located in Bhakkar, Khanewal, Sheikhupura and Islamabad. Significantly, Imran stated that the 300 kanals of land in Islamabad was inherited, although he has said in the past that this piece of land was purchased. Besides the land, he declared his net assets to be worth Rs22 million and also showed Rs0.38 million in liabilities.
Javed Hashmi, meanwhile, claims to own property worth Rs104 million, divided up over agricultural land, urban property, business property and the Makhdoom Cotton Factory. Hashmi paid Rs0.13 million in taxes over the last three years.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi mentioned his agricultural land without mentioning its net value. Besides, he announced properties worth Rs80 million in Islamabad, Lahore and Multan. He declared that he himself owned a little over 753 kanals of land while his son Zain Qureshi owns 1,040 kanals of agricultural land. He claimed that he paid Rs16.4 million in taxes over the last three years, and Rs0.27 million on land.
Meanwhile, Asad Umar declared his assets to be worth around Rs264 million, including his retirement fund worth Rs104 million. He also owns shares worth Rs162.5 million in the stock market. Umar said he owns an open plot worth Rs69 million in DHA Phase VIII in Karachi. His wife owns property worth Rs7.7 million. The former Engro CEO paid Rs34 million in taxes over the last three years.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2012.
Reader Comments (42)
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judging by numbers they still have a lot to hide. 0.13 million in taxes ET seriously?Recommend
This is great they also mentioned their family members assets. Most of time we see that politicians do not do this.
For other parties, please 1st declare your assets publicly, than criticize PTI leaders assets, before that you dont have rights to criticize any thing of their assets.. Thanks
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Former lawmaker Jahangir Tareen, who submitted his annual assets as being worth Rs222 million last year, claimed that his assets were now worth Rs3.2 billion.
This means Arsalan is not the only poor homeless billionaire in Pakistan. It is eye popping to see how these rich and powerful (of all parties) distribute their monies. That is why it is extremely imp to declare all the assets owned by each and every family member and kids. It is ironic to see the real wealth of these revolutionaries who want to take care of all the poor and down trodden.
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Good Example for others to follow!
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Why is it so hard to verify for u reporters what the wealth declaration of Pakistan requires? It explicitly states that cost value of property must be provided & if exact figure is not available the nearest round figure must be declared. Please go to FBR Pakistan’s website & download the wealth declaration form and READ it. Thanx.
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Misquote 1: 305kanal land in isb is not mentioned as inherited.
Misquote 2: current worth of Property is not mentioned (currently not required by law). Values mentioned are at the time of acquisition.
.
Some ppl need to get rid if PTI phobia if they want to report correctly.
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Don’t know about the past, as a whole if they are coming across clean, this is a welcome step in Pakistan’s politics. Furthermore, for people who might have had discrepancies in the past, ideally it should not have happened, but if their net assets declared as of now are higher than previous disclosures, I will consider that a positive development.
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Bold step towards transparent democracy. Other party leaders should also come clear if they present themselves true and sincere representatives. We will support PTI this time and most of my friends are first time voters too.
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Writer is very wrong here. I think it is not necessary to mention the worth of a property if it has been inherited by you since you didn’t buy it and you don’t plan to sell it either. What matters is that don’t try to hide your assets. Once your property is open in public, anyone can see and verify anything they want. Even tax office can know precisely what you own and then can ask for appropriate tax according to the calculations they themselves make. Things become transparent.
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When I see other parties criticizing PTI it feels like PTI is in government and running the show while they are in opposition. They just know how to malign others and do character assassination.
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Where are IK’s tax return details, sources of income?? who is he trying to fool?? Moreover, he promised that that Shuakat khanum’s legal team will give all the details regarding the trust by 9th or 10th of August, we still havent seen that…ECP should take notice of all these descrepencies and un-fullfilled commitments
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We must give them credit for taking initiative. Even things are not ideal still they are moving in right direction
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“Imran stated that the 300 kanals of land in Islamabad was inherited, although he has said in the past that this piece of land was purchased.” This Line is telling whole story of IK.
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if you dont declare assets there is problem when you declare assets there is still problem..
i dont know what media wants…
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@ Mirza: If I own a business of worth billions that I have developed without any illegal deeds, what is wrong in this? Bill Gates owns the Microsoft and he pays millions of dollars in the charity, so is he not taking care of the poor people? At least give some credit where it is due.
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The rich know how to protect their money ,,they seem to join PTI
How are these people different from the others?? shouldn’t PTI decalre . like in India , that no body will own more than 100 canals of land..!
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Land property in Pakistan is always increasing by every passing year so their assets value won’t remain constant. I don’t know which contradiction this writer is talking about.In my opinion, these politicians should only declare their property names and location not their price value.
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this is the most corrupt country in the world. The clean folks at PTI have no chance. another five ruinous years of pml-n
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Wow, u guys if u have any problem take Imran khan to court, he has declared his assets just to ensure that there is transparency. As for people CONCERNED that he has undervalued his property, read the tax laws of Pakistan first, You have to decalre property on cost basis not on market value. Sometimes i feel our reporters are uneducated as blank.
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other parties now please declare your assets before criticizing. We know how the past political government parties have made assets. Tired of roti kapra and makan. We are the only nation who is forced by our own parties for the destruction.
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@Yasir Mehmood: landlords get away with quite a bit. no agriculture taxRecommend
@Mirza: Do you remember the floods of 2010. Do you know how many homes JKT constructed for free. Countless. Now shut up.Recommend
Why media do not criticize the other politician who did not declare their assets, it is a good example and instead appreciating u people are criticizing. Why only Imran Khan and his companion, i say to media please leave the double standard policy. The person who want to do something good, u people want to stop him to do the same. Which leader is like Imran Khan in Pakistan. So don’t force us to do something wrong for media.
Change begins at home. Apne greban main jhanko.
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@LogicEurope and @Mirza: Get a room,
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@Rana: Bro, The assets worth shown in the documents must be the original value when the assets were purchased…
Current value is not mentioned in assets since current market value is subject to rapid fluctuation… SO CORRECT YOUR FACTS PLZ
VOTE FOR CHANGE
VOTE FOR IMRAN KHAN
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E-tribune has in-built biase against Ik and PTI. There editorial against PTI economic policy was the prime example of their biase. Typical liberal hatred against IK. E-tribune is part of that liberal hatred against IK. E-tribune always misquote report about IK and PTI.Recommend
@Yasir Mehmood: You should know that Agro based economy is not taxed by the state…thats why you see 0.13 million in taxes…If any party has taken a positive step, then we should appreciate it, regardless of our political or ideological affiliations…JAZAKALLAH
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@Rana:
and what you say about property own by Sharif brothers in Lahore and Raiwand. Is it in billions or in trillions.
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What a leader. I wish the other so called leaders could even do 1% of this great man. I salute Imran Khan for his leadership and always being sincere towards Pakistan. Inshallah he will come to power and rescue this country.
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Why no research? I like objective criticism but why the bias and what seems like intentionally hiding facts? is this professional ET?
Imran Khan in countless shows clearly stated that he didn’t have money to buy the 300 Kanal, Jemima bought it with her own money, When IK sold his flat he gave Jemima the money she in turn gifted her the land, can’t a husband & wife do this if they want to buy a land and build a house?
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ET…..
Only purchase cost is required to be disclosed by law… not current value…
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@Obvious:
Dear Mr Obvious,
Why PTI jayalas forget that a person is not liable to pay income tax on when he does not have income while still having accumulated wealth under law, when they are quoting others.
Why they fail to understand that property is quoted at acquisition costs, when they are usually referring to others….
PTI should have a look at thier own leaders before criticizing others.
Having different standards for different persons is hypocracy? or PTI has some other terminology for this as well?Recommend
@Mirza: Thanks for making me laugh early in the morning. Please instead of PTI bashing, can you explain, how much you have to tell about your beloved leader’s asset and taxes, let alone his family.
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This is nothing more than an eyewash… IK’s 300 kanal palace in Islamabad is still undeclared. How come he inherits a property which he had earlier declared to have purchased in 2003, perhaps with Donation’s money!
These cricketer folks have been minting Millions of $$$ but always paid very negligible taxes.
http://www.brecorder.com/epaper/page_2012_08_27_14.html
The tax records of IK Niazi need to be probed further as to how much tax has been paid (if ever paid) on:
a> advertisements of Wills Ciggarette Manufacturers and Pepsi Bottlers?
b> match fee on the county matches played in UK?
The only reliance “Mr. Clean IK Niazi” has that his income was “taxed at source” but he certainly does not know that under Income Tax Ordinance-1979 (now Income Tax Ordinance 2001) one has to pay taxes on foreign income and file income tax & wealth tax returns if he is a resident Pakistani.Recommend
@Usman: You remind me of this mullah who once, on Friday sermon told a large gathering that any part of any man’s feet/calf which is covered by dress/shalwar during prayer, will burn forever in hell. He emphasized on “part” of feet and lower legs, which will burn but the rest of the body will be saved somehow. Now doe’s it sound credible to you? Men like you are the people who are causing decay and stagnation in our country. Quid-e-Azam clearly told our nation to stay away from mullaah like you since this country is meant for a secular people, period.Recommend
I don’t get the point of this story – you’re regurgitating the same facts that have already been published.
The declaration are not thorough but certainly i don’t find any contradictions since you ahve nothing to compare to? ECP hasn’t published it’s data for this year so how can you say that they are contradicting themselves based on 1 year old data?
Whereas I don’t agree with a whole lot of things PTI/Imran Khan have to say this declaration of assets was pretty commendable –
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@Nadeem:
Sir, I have never said that these guys are bad. In fact I only questioned the meteoric rise in one person’s fortunes just like Arsalan. Comparing these gentlemen with Bill Gates or Warren Buffet is like apple and oranges. Warren was the richest man in the US and he gave away 99% of his wealth to charity. There is not one example of such generosity in the history. Moreover these rich Americans are not translating their charity or business achievement into votes or power and should not be compared to the politicians.
Thanks for keeping it civil, regards,
Mirza
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i laugh on all these politicians lol they need to grow up and so should Imran khan now. will imran khan also please declare the assets of their election alliance parties such as sheikh rasheed and jamate islami mullahs who used to have one cycle nd now bungalows. it would be really great to see their actual wealth coming on the screen Recommend
1600 kanals 22 million assets with no source of income masshallah .imran khan is a fraud .
Pls chech his net worth is 50million usd proof at http://www.celebritynetworth.com
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Clear lies of pti. People should open their eyes now
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ET you should have appreciated the fact that PTI declared assets without compulsion of law because they are not parliamentarians as yet. But I think that your PTI-phobia policy is restricting you from doing this. Is that so?
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Thank you ET for letting us know that he not only misused zakat but also didny pay his taxes..
Please expose other “clean” strata/holy cows of the society including bureaucrats, generals, media persons, cricketers as well.Recommend