KARACHI- Former president Asif Ali Zardari has mentioned in his nomination papers that he possesses an iqama (foreign work permit) of United Arab Emirates and uses six bulletproof luxury vehicles.
Besides revealing his lavish lifestyle, the PPP co-chairman has also stated he owns thousands of acres of agricultural land and property in Dubai and has spent millions of rupees on arms, horses and livestock.
According to the statement of assets filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan, Zardari owns over a dozen properties in Pakistan, besides his share in five properties inherited from Benazir Bhutto.
Zardari has declared that he owns just a single property outside Pakistan, contrary to the claims of his political opponents that he owns palaces in France and Dubai and properties in other countries, including the United Kingdom.
In his declaration, the 62-year-old has admitted owning an open plot in the Al-Safa Second area of Dubai, purchased at some unspecified time for an amount equivalent to around Rs100 million.
The total value of his assets is gauged at around Rs758.66m though his son worths almost double of that figure.
Delving into the details of assets, it emerges that Asif Zardari owns three Toyota Land Cruisers, two BMWs and one Toyota Lexus – all bulletproof.
The cost of the unspecified number of horses and cattle belonging to the former president has been put at Rs 9.9m and he possesses arms and ammunition worth Rs16.60m, Dawn News reported.
Zardari has shown an investment of Rs12.9m in ‘Land Marks’ (apparently a real estate business venture).
He has also admitted investing Rs890,000 in Asif apartment (Huma Heights) adding that he does not have any business capital outside Pakistan.
Further details about the assets of former state head are as follows:
- Rs1.07m investment in the Zardari Group (pvt) Limited and the Park Lane Estate (pvt) Limited. - A loan of Rs4.50m to the Zardari Group. - Rs209m cash in hand, Rs89.76m deposited in the Silk Bank and Rs1,000 in the Sindh Bank’s Larkana Branch. - Two properties in Clifton valued at Rs111.51m, a 2,000 square yards plot in the Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, purchased for Rs850,000 and a house in Nawabshah worth Rs22.56m. - Numerous agricultural properties in Nawabshah, Larkana and Tando Allahyar areas. - Around 7,400 acres of farmland obtained on lease in Tando Allahyar, Matli, Badin and Nawabshah