Pak government asked to provide details of Zardari's assets

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament on Tuesday asked the Election Commission and the government to provide complete details of the current assets of President Asif Ali Zardari.

During the committee meeting held in the Parliament on Tuesday Leader of Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the government should provide details of President Zardari's current assets, annual income and tax returns.

Holders of public office are bound by election rules to submit details of their assets every year by Sept. 1.

According to data available from different sources including the government of Sindh, President Zardari directly or indirectly owns a number of properties inside Pakistan and abroad. He did not submit details of the assets to the Election Commission while filing his nomination papers during September 2008 presidential election.

Former Secretary Election Commission Kunwar Dilshad told Arab News it's mandatory for the parliamentarians to submit tax returns and details of income and assets every year.

Some of the properties Zardari owns in the country are:

Plot No. 121, Phase VIII, DHA, Karachi; Agricultural land situated in Deh Dali Wadi, Taluka, Tando Allah Yar; Agricultural property located in Deh Tahooki Taluka, District Hyderabad measuring 65.15 acres; House No. 8, Street 19, F-8/2, Islamabad; Agricultural land in Deh 42 Dad Taluka/ District Nawabshah; Five acres of prime land allotted by DG KDA in 1995/96.

Zardari also has shares in a number of sugar mills that include Sakrand Sugar Mills, Nawabshah; Ansari Sugar Mills, Hyderabad; Mirza Sugar Mills, Badin; and Pangrio Sugar Mills, Thatta.

His properties abroad include 355 acres of Rockwood Estate, Surrey; Flat 6, 11 Queensgate Terrace, London SW7; 26 Palace Mansions, Hammersmith Road, London W14; 27 Pont Street, London, SW1; 20 Wilton Crescent, London SW1; 23 Lord Chancellor Walk, Coombe Hill, Kingston, Surrey; and a flat at Queensgate Terrace, London.

In Belgium, Zardari's properties include 12-3 Boulevard De-Nieuport, 1000, Brussels, (Building containing 4 shops and 2 large apartments) and Chausee De-Mons, 1670, Brussels.

Properties in France are: La Manoir De La Reine Blanche and property in Cannes.

Properties in US in the name of Asif Zardari and managed by Shimmy Qureshi are:

Stud farm in Texas, Wellington Club East, West Palm Beach, 12165 West Forest Hills, Florida; Escue Farm 13,524 India Mound, West Palm Beach 3,220 Santa Barbara Drive, Wellington Florida; 13,254 Polo Club Road, West Palm Beach Florida; 3,000 North Ocean Drive, Singer Islands, Florida; 525 South Flager Driver, West Palm Beach, Florida; Holiday Inn Houston owned by Asif Zardari, Iqbal Memon and Sadaruddin Hashwani.

In addition to the above, he has accounts in a number of foreign banks.