Pakistan Muslim League (N) has demanded of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Chief Justice of Pakistan to reject Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz's nomination for upcoming by-elections accusing him of submitting wrong details of his assets.
"Shaukat Aziz has deliberately concealed details of his assets filed along with his nomination papers, flouting income tax law and Article 62 and 63 of the constitution. He does not qualify to contest by-elections," accused central information secretary of PML (N), Siddiqul Farooq while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.
Federal finance minister Shaukat Aziz is contesting by-elections from two constituencies of NA-59 Attock-III and NA-229 Tharparkar-I, which will be held on August 18, 2004.
Addressing the press conference, Siddiqul Farooq said that Shaukat has concealed about 30 million pounds (Rs 3.08 billion) of his deposits with the Lloyds Bank in England. "Actually, his deposits are more than 30 million pounds but he has declared only 310,388 pounds," he claimed.
He further said that the Prime Minister-designate has also not revealed the enhancement in value of his property, he had declared at the time of contesting Senate elections in 2002.
At that time Shaukat had declared the total value of a house and a plot in Karachi Defence Society and an agricultural farm in Islamabad as Rs 13,174,500. "He has given the same figures now despite the fact that property values in Karachi and Islamabad has increased manifold during the past two years," Siddiqul Farooq maintained.
The PML (N) central information secretary went on to say that the finance minister has also not disclosed the enhancement in value of apartments he owns in the US and London.
Accusing the Prime Minister, Siddiqul Farooq said that Shujaat Hussain in an interview with a national newspaper had said that Shaukat Aziz pays Rs 3 million as income tax every year.
"According to the details presented to returning officer, Shaukat Aziz has paid Rs 9,144 in 2001, Rs 1,854 in 2002 and Rs 4,908 in 2003. It means that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has also deceived the nation," he further added.
The Central secretary information of PML (N) made an offer to Shaukat Aziz that he is ready to buy his property in Pakistan at double the price, which he (Shaukat) has declared before the returning officer.
He demanded of the Chief Election Commissioner and Chief Justice to take suo moto notice of this case like CEC of our neighbour India did.
Besides demanding dismissal of Shaukat Aziz from his minister-ship, Siddiqul Farooq urged the government to confiscate his hidden money in London's bank account.
Replying to another query, he informed that Prime Minister Shujaat Hussain is a bank defaulter and PML (N) has already contacted Chief Election Commissioner and Chairman of National Accountability Bureau to take up this issue.