PML-A Chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed addressing a gathering during an election rally in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Only four of the 22 candidates running in the NA-55 (Rawalpindi-VI) by-election scheduled for Wednesday have declared their tax details, a report released by a coalition of NGOs working to foster democratic accountabilities reveals.

According to declarations made by the contestants in their nomination forms submitted to the Election Commission, only five have declared that they are registered with the tax authorities and furnished their National Tax Number (NTN), with Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rashid Ahmed being the only one who has paid tax in six-digit figure.

Besides Mr Ahmed, the NTN holders in the run are Dr Mohammad Kamal of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Malik Shakeel Awan of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Haji Gulzar Awan of Pakistan Aman Party (PAP) and Barrister Danish Iftikhar, an independent candidate.

The report released by the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) says only four NTN holders declared that they paid income tax during the last fiscal year.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed paid Rs139,760, Dr Kamal Rs14,700, Haji Gulzar Awan Rs40,000 and Shakeel Awan Rs13,214. Interestingly, Barrister Iftikhar has declared his net worth of assets at Rs117.14 million but did not mention the amount of income tax he might have paid.

Returning Officer Syed Mohammad Tariq Qadri, when contacted, confirmed that Barrister Iftikhar did not mention any tax amount in his statement.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has declared the net value of his assets at Rs24.61 million. He declared the value of his land in Fatehjang at Rs8.63 million, Al Rashid Market at Rs1.05 million and a farm shed in Fatehjang at Rs800,000. He has also declared a fixed deposit amount of Rs13 million, a Honda car valuing less than Rs1 million, a tractor valuing Rs170,000 and weapons worth Rs30,000.

The declared assets of Barrister Danish Iftikhar include prize bonds worth Rs105 million, a Toyota vehicle valuing Rs5 million, land valuing at Rs6.8 million and shares of Rs1.04 million.

Ejaz Khan Jazi of the PTI has put the value of six kanals of land and a 10 marla plot owned by him at Rs5.3 million.

Dr Kamal of Jamaat-i-Islami has declared the value of his 20 kanals at Rs4 million and a Suzuki van worth Rs400,000.

Haji Gulzar Awan’s declared assets include three plots worth Rs7.5 million, a Land Cruiser valuing at Rs4 million, a Santro car and furniture worth Rs250,000 each.

Sajjad Qadri of Sunni Tehrik has declared the value of his land and house at Rs2 million. He also possesses 10 tolas of gold.

Haji Javed of Awami National Party has declared the value of a seven marla plot owned by him at Rs1.9 million.

Abdul Sattar of Awami Party Pakistan has declared the value of his home and plot at Rs1.8 million, Talib Qureshi of Pakistan Awami Party possesses a flat valuing Rs1 million, Ghulam Hussain and Malik Asif, independents, have declared the value of their homes at Rs1.2 million. Malik Asif also owns six tolas of gold. Another independent candidate, Naeemur Rehman, had a car valuing at Rs550,000 to declare in his assets.

Those who have not declared any asset in their forms include Kashif Hussain of Mohajir Kashmir Movement, Sardar Naseer of Pakistan Freedom Party, Perveen Kausar, Amin Gill, Hakeem Bashir Bhervi, Khurshid Anwar, Shahbaz Bhatti and Syed Tanvir (independents).

Of 63 nominations filed for NA-55 by-elections, eight were rejected on multiple grounds. Two objections were filed against Sheikh Rashid Ahmed which were turned down by the returning officer after accepting the defence and documents furnished by the AML candidate.

The second objection was filed against Siddiqul Farooque, who withdrew from the race. Thirty candidates withdrew their nomination papers, while three withdrew from the contest after the acceptance of their nomination papers, leaving 22 in the run – 10 fielded by political parties and 12 independents.

The month-long heated election campaign for NA-55 came to an end on Monday, with rival candidates showing their strength by holding rallies at different places.

Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed traded allegations. Mr Sharif criticised those who betrayed him while Sheikh Rashid accused the Punjab government of supporting ‘land mafia’.

Security personnel and supporters of various political parties were on their toes till midnight in the city as eight major public gatherings were held to woo over 300,000 people before they cast their votes on Wednesday.

Sheikh Rashid chose the historic Liaquat Bagh for holding his final show while Mr Sharif addressed a rally at Committee Chowk in support of PML-N candidate Shakil Awan.

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Jamaat-i-Islami, Awami National Party, Awami Party Pakistan and independent candidates also held separate rallies.

As many as 22 candidates are in the run for NA-55. However, the closest contest is between Shakeel Awan and Sheikh Rashid.

Sheikh Rashid said he would get the work restarted on multi-billion rupee projects he had initiated in the city. He accused the Punjab government of deliberately shelving these projects.

In an apparent effort to win support of PPP voters, Mr Rashid announced that Benazir Bhutto Hospital would be made a state-of-the-art hospital and said he would himself approach President Asif Ali Zardari for funds.

Nawaz Sharif said his party would try all dictators in the people’s court if elected to form a government at the centre. Without naming former president Musharraf, he said ‘Ali Baba’ had fled the country but his 40 thieves were there.