Tag: toshakhana gifts

  • ‘Didn’t buy any watch, don’t have anything to do with this’: Watch shop owner distances himself from PTI claims

    ‘Didn’t buy any watch, don’t have anything to do with this’: Watch shop owner distances himself from PTI claims

    The owner of a small shop at the center of the Toshakhana scandal has distanced himself from the narrative given by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership about the sale of state gifts.

    PTI has argued that the Master Graff wristwatch which was gifted to its Chairman Imran Khan when he was the Prime Minister, was sold to a retail business store by the name of “Art of Time” in Islamabad.

    Among the gifts alleged to have been sold by the former Premier is a bejewelled Master Graff wristwatch that was gifted to the PTI chief by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

    A multi-millionaire Dubai-based businessman, Umar Farooq, has said that he bought the precious watch from Imran Khan’s trusted family friend Farah Gogi after paying a hefty amount of $2 million in cash.

    The receipt of the sale of this same special edition watch to “Art of Time” was deposited by the former premier himself before the Cabinet Division.

    Earlier today, an audio recording of former First Lady Bushra Bibi has surfaced online.

    In the brief clip, Bushra Bibi can be heard allegedly discussing selling Toshakhana watches with Zulfi Bukhari, a close confidant of her husband.

    As soon as the audio was leaked, Mohammad Shafiq, the owner of “Art of Time” in a video statement, distanced himself from the controversy.

    “I neither bought any watch nor have I got anything to do with this matter,” said Shafiq in a video. He added that propaganda was going against him —tying him to purchasing the watch.

    “Neither is that my shop’s bill (receipt), nor is that my signature. Even that handwriting is not mine. My business stamps and other things have been used unlawfully,” Shafiq shared.

    He added that he was hoping the matter would die down by itself —which was why he did not respond to any questions being raised.

    Shafique warned of legal action [against the propagandists] if he was dragged deeper into the matter.

  • Audio leak: Bushra Bibi allegedly discussing selling Toshakhana watches with Zulfi Bukhari

    Audio leak: Bushra Bibi allegedly discussing selling Toshakhana watches with Zulfi Bukhari

    An audio recording for former First Lady Bushra Bibi has surfaced online on Thursday.

    In the brief clip, Bushra Bibi can be heard allegedly discussing selling Toshakhana watches with Zulfi Bukhari, a close confidant of her husband, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Following is the audio transcript of the clip.

    Bushra bibi: Hello

    Zulfi Bukhari: Asalam-o-Alikum Jee

    Bushra Bibi: Jee Waalikum Asalam. How are you?

    Zulfi Bukhari: I am well Murshad. How are you are?

    Bushra Bibi: All is well by the grace of God. There are a few watches of Imran Khan Sahib. He has asked me to send them to you so that you can sell them. They are not of his use.

    Zulfi Bukhari: Yes

    Bushra Bibi: He wants that you take them somewhere.

    Zulfi Bukhari: Yes Murshad. I will do so.

    On November 15, Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor claimed in the Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, that the PTI government had sold the expensive Graff wristwatch gifted by Saudi Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, for a cash amount of $2 million or Rs.280 million at the time of sale in 2019.

    Zahoor claimed that he had bought the watch through former accoun­ta­bility minister Shahzad Akbar and Farah Khan, a close aide of Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi.

    The Dubai-based businessman also claimed that Farah wanted to sell the watch for $4-5 million “but after negotiations, I purchased it for $2 million”. The payment, he added, was made in cash on Farah’s insistence.

    It is pertinent to mention here that earlier in the year, another alleged leaked audio of the former First Lady came to light in which Bushra Bibi could be heard saying, “Khan Sahib told you to run a hashtag of treason. I have been getting calls from people that your social media was very active but after a week, it is not. You should have been very active nowadays.”

  • Toshakhana case: Court records ECP official’s statement against Imran Khan

    Toshakhana case: Court records ECP official’s statement against Imran Khan

    A District and Sessions court in Islamabad on Tuesday heard the statement of an official of the Election Commission Pakistan’s (ECP)—District Election Commissioner Waqas Malik—during the hearing of a Toshakhana reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    The proceedings were initiated on an ECP complaint after the commission found him guilty of “false statements and incorrect declaration” in his election papers and disqualified him for concealing information about Toshakhana gifts he received during his tenure as prime minister.

    During the hearing, the district election commissioner said he had been authorised to pursue the case. He added that the ECP is an independent institution that functioned under the Constitution and ensured that corrupt practices are curtailed.

    Malik further said members of the National Assembly submitted their returns to the ECP annually. Similarly, Khan also submitted his returns from 2018 to 2021, he said.

    After listening to the statement, the court adjourned the hearing till December 8.

    Last week, the ECP sent the reference to court, asking it to proceed against Imran under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister. The commission seeks a three-year jail term and imposition of fine as the punishment.

  • Fawad asked Umar not to take Imran’s name on Toshakhana scandal, WhatsApp chat reveals

    Fawad asked Umar not to take Imran’s name on Toshakhana scandal, WhatsApp chat reveals

    Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Fawad Chaudhry, landed in hot water on Wednesday night after Geo News‘ Shahzeb Khanzada revealed WhatsApp conversations the former minister had with Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor.

    The alleged Whatsapp conversations show that Fawad Chaudhry was in contact with Zahoor who claimed this week that former Prime Minister Imran Khan sold him a precious Graff set gifted to him by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2019. Fawad, who had called Zahoor a “liar” after his explosive claims about the sale of the state gift, refers to the businessman as “brother”.

    When Zahoor revealed that he had bought state gifts from Imran Khan, Chaudhry denied the allegations. However, he acknowledged that the gift was “legally” sold in the market.

    In the chats, Fawad said to Zahoor that “It seems the watch alleged to be of IK is not the same”. He also requested him not to take Khan’s name.

    During the show, Khanzada said Chaudhry also promised to help Zahoor get contracts from the Government of Pakistan.

    On Tuesday, Zahoor revealed to Shahzeb Khanzada how that he had bought the Graff set from Khan. Immediately afterward, Chaudhry contacted him and asked what had happened. “[Taking the name of] Shahzad Akbar is understandable, but why Imran Khan?” Chaudhry asked the businessman.

    Zahoor and Chaudhry met in Dubai several times. During the PTI government, the two also exchanged messages.

    Zahoor claimed that he had bought the branded set through former accoun­ta­bility minister Shahzad Akbar and Farah Khan, a close aide of Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi. He said that he had paid the equivalent of $2 million in cash for the set.

  • Responding to Khan, Shahzeb Khanzada has 11 questions

    Responding to Khan, Shahzeb Khanzada has 11 questions

    As details of the sale of Toshakhana gifts come to light, senior journalist Shahzeb Khanzada has raised 10 questions that he wants former Prime Minister Imran Khan to answer.

    After Khanzada’s sensational interview with Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor, who claimed to have bought the state gifts from Farah Khan, Imran Khan wrote, “Enough is enough,” and said that he would sue Geo and the journalist in Pakistan, UAE and United Kingdom.

    Shahzeb Khanzada then appeared on Geo News‘ and told Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that all stories are aired on the channel after due diligence and he was ready to accept the PTI chief’s challenge.

    Speaking over the phone with Geo News, Khanzada said, “We always run a story after complete investigation. It isn’t our responsibility to find out to whom the gifts were sold; Imran Khan’s responsibility is to tell the people.”

    The journalist asked if Khan believes that Zahoor was a “fraudster”, then why does he have the gifts? “If [Khan] did not sell the gifts to him, then whom did he sell them to?”

    Khanzada said that every time he hosts a show about PTI, he makes sure that the party’s leaders are invited, but they never accept the invite.

    “We will face the PTI chairman in any court he wants to go to,” Khanzada reiterated.

    Khanzada asked that Khan answer 11 essential questions:

    1. Why were the gifts sold via Farah Gogi for $2 million dollars?

    2. If Imran Khan did not sell them, how did they reach Umar Farooq?

    3. If the gifts were not sold to Umar Farooq Zahoor, then who were they sold?

    4. Was the money brought to Pakistan after the gifts were sold?

    5. If the money was brought to Pakistan, where is the banking transaction?

    6. If the money was not brought to Pakistan, where is this massive amount of cash?

    7. Why were the transactions shown at nearly Rs. 60 million in papers and not at Rs. 280 million?

    8. Did Imran Khan evade filing taxes on the sale or did he hide the money trail by not disclosing these transactions?

    9. In 2019, the gifts were priced at over Rs. 1 billion. Why were the gifts bought from Toshakhana by only paying slightly over Rs. 20 million?

    10. Why was the national exchequer dealt damages of more than Rs.1 billion?

    11. Why does Imran Khan choose to defend Farah Khan himself?

  • ‘Geo & Khanzada supported by Handlers slandered me’: Khan on Toshakhana gifts

    ‘Geo & Khanzada supported by Handlers slandered me’: Khan on Toshakhana gifts

    Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has finally addressed the sensational revelations that came to light on Tuesday about the alleged sale of state gifts given to him when he was the Prime Minister.

    Taking to his twitter account, Imran Khan wrote, “Enough is enough,” about Geo News‘ Shahzeb Khanzada’s interview with Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor. The millionaire revealed on the show that he had purchased the watch and other items gifted by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to Imran Khan.

    “Yesterday Geo & Khanzada supported by Handlers slandered me through a baseless story cooked up by a known fraudster & internationally wanted criminal. I have spoken to my lawyers & I plan to sue Geo, Khanzada & the fraudster not only in Pak but also in UK & UAE [sic],” tweeted Khan.

    Zahoor claimed in the Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, that the PTI government had sold the expensive Graff wristwatch for $2 million in cash, worth approximately Rs280m at the time of sale in 2019.

    Zahoor claimed that he had bought the watch through former accoun­ta­bility minister Shahzad Akbar and Farah Khan, a close aide of Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi.

    The Dubai-based businessman also claimed that Farah wanted to sell the watch for $4-5 million “but after negotiations, I purchased it for $2 million”. The payment, he added, was made in cash on Farah’s insistence.

    The claims evoked outcry from PTI leaders, including Akbar, who denied Zahoor’s allegations.

    In a press conference alongside PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said the party has decided to initiate legal proceedings against Zahoor as his claims were baseless.

    “In 2018, the Saudi crown prince gifted a watch to Imran Khan and the controversy over the watch’s price has been going on for a while now,” the former federal minister said.

    Chaudhry said the watch was priced at Rs100 million, and in line with the law regulating Toshakhana, Khan sold it for more than Rs50 million in the market and filed capital gain tax on it.

    Divulging the details of Toshakahana’s procedures for purchase, the PTI leader said when the gifts given to state officials arrive in Pakistan, they are deposited into Toshakhana.

    “The law states that 20% of the gift’s value should be deposited in the national exchequer. We amended the law and made it 50%,” he said.

    Defending the former prime minister, Chaudhry said the gift items were not sold to the Dubai-based businessman and Bushra Bibi’s friend had no role in their sale.

    “The watch was not sold to anyone named Umar Zahoor. The watch was not handed over to Farah for sale and she has no role in it,” he said, as he levelled allegations against the millionaire.

  • High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    After the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict de-seating Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge the commission’s decision to disqualify him.

    On Monday, the high court rejected Imran Khan’s request to suspend the ECP order instantly in the Toshakhana reference on the basis of which he had been disqualified.

    However, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah observed that Khan had not been barred from contesting in future elections, adding that he “won’t face any problems” to contest in the NA-45 (Kurram-I) by-election. The by-election is scheduled to be held on October 30.

    Moreover, CJ said that Khan’s disqualification by the ECP is only to the extent of the seat he was notified on.

    During the hearing today, Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said that his client had been disqualified ahead of the by-election in Kurram and a stay order is needed because the PTI chairman is contesting from the seat.

    The IHC chief justice then observed, “Imran Khan is not disqualified for that election”, adding that he would not face any problems in this regard.

    Justice Minallah also pointed out that the ECP’s detailed judgment is not available yet.

    The chief justice observed that it is normal practice to issue a detailed judgment later.

    “Wait for the [written] verdict. This is a routine matter. The Election Commission is not delaying it,” he stated.

    On October 21, ECP in a consensus verdict, disqualified former Prime Minister Khan and ruled that he is no more a member of the National Assembly (NA) in Toshakhana reference.

    Khan was disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) for misdeclaration.

  • PM Shehbaz deposits gifts worth Rs270 million in Toshakhana

    PM Shehbaz deposits gifts worth Rs270 million in Toshakhana

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has deposited all the gifts that he has received from foreign leaders worth Rs270 million permanently into the Toshakhana.

    According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, “The premier does not wish to retain any of the gift items presented to him during his visits to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, dated April 28 to April 30, 2022.”

    “The Prime Minister desires that as a policy, all precious gifts should be taken on charge by Toshakhana and consequently be permanently displayed at the PM House. The gifts would be displayed in secure display cabinets, equipped with alarm systems, under the responsibility of the Toshakhana.”

    The gifts included a pair of wristwatches (A. LANGE & SOHNE Datograph Fly back — No 242655 and Rolex — model No 326259TBR Sr No 85C423E3), pair of cufflinks (Chopard), one pen (Chopard), a ring (Chopard) and a rosary (Chopard)

    Furthermore, the PM Shehbaz has directed concerned authorities to make arrangements for displaying the gifts so that the general public can be given knowledge of fraternal ties with friendly countries.

    Formed in 1974, the Toshakhana is a government owned department under the control of Cabinet Division of Pakistan. Its main purpose is to secure gifts received by members of parliament, ministers, foreign secretaries, president and prime minister from foreign dignitaries.