Daily Times

KARACHI: Former Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has declared over Rs213 million assets in the affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers, it emerged on Saturday.

As per the nomination papers submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan, Murad Ali Shah, who also held the finance ministry in the previous provincial government, owns a house in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) that is valued at Rs 11.5 million. He also owns 51 acres of agricultural land in various districts of the province.

The Pakistan Peoples Party leader has also listed ownership of two vehicles worth Rs 2.2 million and Rs 12 million, along with jewellery weighing 10 tolas, that is valued at over Rs590,000. Moreover, Murad Also Shah also declared $264, 368 in a foreign currency bank account.

The Supreme Court had ordered all candidates for the upcoming election to submit an affidavit along with their nomination papers carrying important information including ther assets and liabilities. The ECP had announced that it would release all details carried in the affidavits to the public to let voters make informed choices in the upcoming election. Under the Representation of People Act (ROPA) 1976 Section 42(A) and Senate Election Act’s Section 25 (A), it is mandatory for parliamentarians to declare their assets along with those of their spouses and dependents.

Jam Shoro’s assets increase from Rs 2.4 m to over a billion

On Saturday, an intriguing case became viral on popular social media platform Whatsapp of a PPP candidate whose net assets have apparently increased from a mere Rs 2.4 million to over a billion rupees over the last five years.

In several Whatsapp groups of Karachi-based reporters, the conversation revolved around Jam Khan Shoro’s assets, valued at over Rs1 billion.

Shoro, who was elected to the provincial assembly from PS-47 Hyderabad-III in the general election 2013, went on to serve as the provincial minister for local government in the outgoing cabinet. This year, he is contesting the election from PS-62. In 2013, Shoro paid Rs211,000 in taxes.

Among the assets declared by Shoro in the affidavit are nine residential properties and three cars, all declared as gifts received from unidentified sources, according to Whatapp conversations. The assets also reportedly include hundreds of acres of agricultural land.

Among his businesses shown in the affidavit are poultry and cattle farms.

Published in Daily Times, June 24^th 2018.