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Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Maulana Fazlur Rehman possesses assets beyond means?

Maulana was reportedly "in possession of information/evidence whatsoever which relates to the commission of [the] said offense". Will the NAB be able to file a case against him?

The National Accountability Bureau wants to know details of the Pakistan Democratic Movement and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman’s assets and source of income. NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sent the JUI-F chief an asset form on Friday. Fazl has reportedly been asked to provide details of what he owns, including any inherited property. NAB has given a deadline of December 28.

The PDM chief also has to give details of his bank accounts, source of income and sold properties, sources said.

Earlier in September this year, a notice was issued under Section 19 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, and was sent to Rehman’s residence in Dera Ismail Khel.

It said the subject inquiry had revealed that Rehman was “in possession of information/evidence whatsoever which relates to the commission of [the] said offence”.

The notice called upon the JUI-F chief to appear before CIT (combined investigation team)-I at NAB’s regional office on October 1 at 11am in order to “record your statement/plea in the subject inquiry”.

Failure to comply with the notice may entail penal consequences as per the Schedule of NAO, 1999, the summons stated.

Read more: When All Else Failed, Maulana Fazlur Rehman played Religion Card

According to a letter sent to an additional director of NAB KP by the Islamabad headquarters of the accountability watchdog, NAB chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal had approved the “authorization of inquiry” against Rehman and others on Sept 14. An authorization letter signed by Iqbal on Sept 18 was also forwarded to NAB KP for necessary action.

Maulana’s political career

Rehman was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1988 Pakistani general elections for the first time from D.I. Khan Seat. In 1990, he ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan but did not win the election.

Rehman was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1993 for the second time on Islamic Jamhoori Mahaz ticket from D.I. Khan. He was appointed as the chairman of the Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs in the National Assembly of Pakistan.

In 1997, he ran for the seat of the National Assembly but did not win the election. However, Rehman was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2002 for the third time on the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal ticket. He served as the leader of the opposition from 2004 to 2007.

Rehman ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2008 for the sixth time on Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal ticket from two constituencies, NA-24, D.I. Khan which is his traditional constituency and NA-26, Bannu. In September 2008, he was elected chairman of the Kashmir Committee of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

In May 2014, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave him the status of a federal minister for being the chairman of a special committee of the National Assembly on Kashmir. In August 2017, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi gave him the same status again. Upon the dissolution of the National Assembly on the expiration of its term on 31 May 2018, he ceased to hold the status of a federal minister.

Read more: Imran Khan, Fazlur Rehman & Religion Card Threat: A Story Going Nowhere

Rehman ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2018 from Dera Ismail Khan’s constituencies, NA38 and NA 39 but did not win.

On 27 August 2018, several opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League (N), nominated him as a candidate in the 2018 presidential election but could not win.