ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The last five years witnessed a dramatic increase in the assets of nearly a dozen of federal ministers in the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, revealed an investigation carried out by Samaa News.
In 2015, the total assets of PTI federal ministers were worth Rs 2.15 billion which increased to Rs 5.5 billion in 2020, thus increasing the value of their total assets by 150%.
Which ministers’ assets increased?
According to the research of SAMAA’s Investigation Unit, the assets of the former ministers of the PTI government, which doubled and quadrupled day and night, include Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid, Azam Swati, Umar Ayub, Khusro Bakhtiar, Shafqat Mahmood, Zubaida Jalal, Fahmida Mirza, Tariq Cheema, Sahibzada Sultan, and Faisal Vawda.
Whose assets have increased so much?
According to the research of Samaa News, the assets of former Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood have increased by 308% during the last 5 years.
The assets of Sheikh Rashid increased by 282%, Shah Mahmood Qureshi by 241%, Omar Ayub by 203%, Azam Swati by 202% and Khusro Bakhtiar and Fahmida Mirza by 157%.
Similarly, the assets of Sahibzada Sultan have increased by 80%, the assets of Tariq Cheema by 50% and the assets of Faisal Vawda by 25%.
The position of former ministers
Samaa News has compared the details of the assets of these ministers submitted to the Election Commission between 2014 and 2020. All the ministers have confirmed the increase in assets to the head of SAMAA Investigation.
Some former ministers of the PTI era claim that their assets have not increased but the value of these assets has increased.
Seeking answers from three former ministers
Three former federal ministers have confirmed that they have also received notices from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on asset matters.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi
The former Foreign Minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his wife’s total assets were Rs 72 million in 2014, which increased to Rs 247 million in 2020.
Qureshi attributed the increase in assets to his wife getting a share of the property from her father-in-law in 2015.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi says he has responded to the Election Commission’s objection to the assets.
Omar Ayub
Omar Ayub Khan and his wife, who were in various ministries during the PTI regime, had total assets of Rs 46 crore in 2014 which increased to Rs 1.40 billion in 2020.
Omar Ayub Khan says that his assets have increased due to his share in business shares and business company.
The former federal minister says he has responded to the Election Commission’s objection to the assets.
Azam Swati
In 2015, the total assets of Azam Swati and his wife were worth Rs 82 crore, which increased to Rs 2.4 billion in 2020.
The former federal minister says that he has no business in Pakistan and the reason for the increase in assets is also the business abroad.
Azam Swati said that there was a misunderstanding in submitting details of assets, now it has been rectified.
Khusro Bakhtiar
The former Federal Minister Khusro Bakhtiar and his wife had total assets of Rs 130 million in 2014 which increased to Rs 240 million in 2020.
Khusro Bakhtiar says his assets grew because of the expansion of agribusiness, land sales and savings.
Sheikh Rashid
In 2014, the total assets of former Home Minister Sheikh Rashid were worth Rs. 39.4 million which increased to Rs. 149.2 million in 2019.
Sheikh Rashid says that he has no business nor assets have increased. His assets have increased from selling land, he has received Rs 100 million in advance.
Shafqat Mahmood
Shafqat Mahmood and his wife owned assets worth Rs. 37 million in 2013. In 2019, their assets became Rs. 151 million.
The former education minister says that his assets have not increased but the current value of his assets has been revealed.
Fahmida Mirza
The total assets of Fahmida Mirza and her husband Zulfiqar Mirza, belonging to the PTI’s Grand Democratic Alliance party from Sindh, were Rs 65 million in 2013 which increased to Rs 164 million in 2019.
Fahmida Mirza says that her assets have not increased abnormally, she has sold her house and property in UK, Pakistan, the new asset has also been shown in the statements submitted to FBR and Election Commission.
Zubaida Jalal
Zubaida Jalal and her husband belonging to Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) had a total assets of Rs 90 lakh in 2017. In 2019, their assets became worth Rs 116 million.
Zubaida Jalal said that there was no big difference in her assets, the business belongs to her husband, earlier she did not disclose the total value of assets and business.
Faisal Vawda
In 2017, the total assets of Faisal Vawda and his wife were worth Rs. 507 million which increased to more than Rs 63 crore in 2019.
Faisal Vawda did not respond to a request for comment.
Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan
In the year 2018, the total assets of Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan and his wife were Rs. 126 million which increased to Rs. 227.2 million in 2019.
Mehboob Sultan also did not respond to an increase in his assets.
Tariq Cheema
In 2014, the total assets of Tariq Cheema and his wife were Rs. 73 million which increased to Rs. 112 million in 2019.
Tariq Cheema also did not respond.
