Tag: Toshakhana

  • NO suspension of arrest warrants, Islamabad court told Khan

    NO suspension of arrest warrants, Islamabad court told Khan

    An Islamabad court has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s plea which sought suspension of non-bailable arrest warrants of Khan in the Toshakhana case.

    Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal on Thursday gave the verdict that the warrants could not be suspended on the basis of an undertaking.

    On Tuesday, the former ruling party moved Islamabad High Court (IHC) requesting it to suspend Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case, but the high court asked Khan to approach trial court.

    Currently, the situation at Khan’s Zaman Park residence is relatively calm following the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) orders of stopping the police operation till 10am today. But later, the court clarified that it has not stopped police from executing the arrest warrants and asked PTI to resolve the matter.

  • Maryam Nawaz and Fawad Chaudhry clash on Twitter after he accuses her of getting watch from Toshakhana

    Maryam Nawaz and Fawad Chaudhry clash on Twitter after he accuses her of getting watch from Toshakhana

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday accused Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz of retaining a watch from Toshakhana and said that she should be summoned by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

    He also claimed that this matter should be investigated because “a private citizen got a 2 crore worth watch for 10 lac.”

    Reacting to this, Maryam tagged her Political Secretary Zeeshan Malik to report Fawad for “propagating lies”.

    On Monday, Fawad took to Twitter to share that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken notice of his accusation within a few hours of Maryam’s tweet and pointed out that Supreme Court is quiet when the rights of citizens are suspended in the country.

    In the notice attached with the tweet, the FIA purportedly had asked Fawad to appear in person on Friday (March 17). The tweet was later deleted.

    The Cabinet Division made records of the Toshakhana available to the public on Sunday night.

    Aaj News also aired the false claim related to Maryam, but later apologised to the PML-N leader. However, Maryam Nawaz said that she will take legal action against the channel.

    In a tweet, Maryam said she will lodge a complaint with Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) against journalist Amir Mateen for also airing the false claim.

  • Nawaz gets a Mercedes, Zardari BMWs: New list of Toshakhana gifts reveals what previous govts kept for themselves

    On Sunday, the government officially released long-awaited records regarding the gifts received by public office holders from foreign governments and dignitaries since 2002.

    The Toshakhana, established in 1974, is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and is responsible for the storage of precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states, as well as foreign dignitaries.

    As per the Toshakhana rules, gifts, presents, and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply must be reported to the Cabinet Division.

    The department has been in the news in recent months due to the proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan for “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, announced last month the government’s plan to release the entire record to the public. In addition, officials have been barred from retaining gifts worth more than $300.

    Below are some of the noteworthy gifts kept by political leaders over the years from the Toshakhana:

    Nawaz Sharif

    Nawaz Sharif, the three-time former Prime Minister and PML-N chief, has retained several expensive items over the years. In April 2008, he kept a Mercedes Benz worth Rs4.2 million after paying Rs636,888 for it. In November 2013, he retained a Rolex wristwatch valued at Rs1.18 million after paying a total of Rs243,000 for it and some other items.

    In January 2015, he kept a Piaget wristwatch worth Rs1 million after paying Rs240,000 for it and a box of perfumes. In January 2016, he retained a Christopher Claret watch (Rs2 million), a ring (Rs19.5 million), and a pair of cufflinks (Rs16 million) after paying a total of Rs7.6 million for them and some other items.

    In February 2016, he kept a Dela Cour watch (Rs3.2 million), a ring (Rs8 million), and a pair of cufflinks (Rs5 million) after paying Rs3.2 million for them.

    In October 2016, he retained two Rolex watches, one worth Rs1.2 million and the other Rs850,000, after paying Rs469,000 for them and some other items. In March 2017, his son Hussain Nawaz retained a Rolex watch worth Rs940,000 after paying Rs186,000 for it.

    In May 2017, Nawaz retained a Rolex wristwatch worth Rs4 million after paying Rs808,000 for it.

    Additionally, in January 2016, Nawaz’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz retained a bracelet worth Rs12.7 million and a necklace and earring valued at Rs41.6 million after paying Rs10.8 million for them. In March 2017, Nawaz retained a diamond necklace worth Rs1 million after paying Rs207,560 for it and a table watch.

    Imran Khan

    In September 2018, Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), retained several items from the Toshakhana including a Graff wristwatch (Rs85 million), a pair of cufflinks (Rs5.6 million), a pen (Rs1.5 million), and a ring (Rs8.75 million) by paying Rs20 million for them.

    In the following month of October 2018, he retained a Rolex watch, valued at Rs3.8 million, by paying Rs754,000 for it. He then retained another Rolex watch (Rs1.5m) in the same month by paying Rs294,000 for it. In November 2018, Imran retained another Rolex wristwatch (Rs900,000) by paying a total of Rs338,600 for it along with other items. In October 2019, he retained a boxed watch, assessed at Rs1.9m, by paying Rs935,000 for it.

    In September 2020, Imran retained another Rolex watch, assessed at Rs4.4 million, along with other gifts by paying Rs2.4 million for them. In the same month, his wife Bushra Bibi retained a necklace (Rs10m), bracelet (Rs2.4m), ring (Rs2.8m), and a pair of earrings (Rs1.85 million) by paying Rs9 million for them.

    Asif Ali Zardari

    In January 2009, former President and co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari, retained a BMW car (Rs57.8 million) and a Toyota Lexus (Rs50 million) after paying a total of Rs16.1 million for them. Additionally, he retained another BMW car (Rs27.3 million) after paying Rs4 million.

    In March 2011, Zardari retained a wristwatch (Rs1 million) after paying Rs158,250 for it and other items. Later, in June 2011, he retained a Corum wristwatch (Rs1.25 million) after paying Rs189,219 for it and other items. In October 2011, Zardari retained another Cartier wristwatch (Rs1m) after paying Rs321,000 for it and a gun.

    Arif Alvi

    In October 2019, Samina Alvi, the wife of President Dr Arif Alvi, retained a necklace valued at Rs1.19 million after making a payment of Rs865,000 for it, along with other items in a jewellery box.

    In February 2022, President Dr Arif Alvi retained a Rolex wristwatch valued at Rs2.5 million, after making a payment of Rs1.2 million for it.

    Raja Pervaiz

    In November 2012, former prime minister and National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf retained a Graff wristwatch, which was assessed at Rs890,000. He paid a total of Rs218,000 for the wristwatch and other items.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    In October 2017, ex-premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi retained a Hublot wristwatch (Rs15 million), a pair of cufflinks (Rs1.2 million), a pen (Rs1.5 million), a ring (Rs3 million), and prayer beads (Rs1.85 million) after paying Rs4.5 million for them. His wife, Sameena Shahid, also retained a jewellery set (Rs99 million) after paying Rs19.99 million for it.

    In November 2017, Abbasi retained a Rolex watch boxset (Rs23 million) after paying Rs4.59 million for it. In April 2018, he retained a Rolex wristwatch (Rs25 million) after paying a total of Rs5.27 million for it and other items.

    Pervez Musharraf

    As per the official record, it was revealed that the total value of the gifts presented to the former military ruler, Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, in 2004 amounted to more than Rs6.5 million. Among these gifts, a watch gifted to Musharraf in 2005 was worth Rs500,000. Numerous other precious items such as watches, jewelry boxes, and various other gifts were also presented to the former president, who retained them after paying the required amount.

    In 2003, Musharraf’s wife, Sehba Musharraf, received a jewelry box worth over Rs2.6 million. Additionally, on April 6, 2006, she received gifts worth Rs1.65 million, while on August 1, 2007, the value of her received gifts stood at Rs3.4 million. On April 3, 2007, she was presented with gifts worth over Rs10 million, and on January 31, 2007, Musharraf himself received gifts valued at Rs1.4 million.

    Shaukat Aziz

    In 2005, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz received a watch worth Rs850,000, which was later auctioned off for Rs355,000. Aziz had kept several other gifts by claiming their value to be below Rs10,000. On September 27, 2007, he received another watch worth Rs1.35 million.

    On December 20, 2006, Aziz received gifts worth Rs3.7 million, which he chose to retain. However, during 2006, he returned several other gifts to the Toshakhana. On June 2, 2006, he received a watch worth Rs1.35 million. On January 7, 2007, the former premier received gifts valued at Rs1.8 million. On February 24, 2010, he received a watch worth Rs1.2 million but returned it to the Toshakhana.

    Yousuf Raza Gillani

    In December 2009, former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s wife, Fauzia Gillani, retained a jewellery set (Rs2 million) after paying Rs326,043 for it.

  • ‘Aik do ghariyaan theen, mere betay ne le li’: Shahid Khaqan about his Toshakhana gifts

    ‘Aik do ghariyaan theen, mere betay ne le li’: Shahid Khaqan about his Toshakhana gifts

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that his son bought watches from Toshakhana which he had received from foreign dignitaries when he was the PM.

    In an interview with a web channel, Abbasi said that he doesn’t wear watches, adding that “aik do ghariyaan theen, mere betay ne le li” (There were some watches, which my son bought).

    He said that gifts are given to the military secretary, not to the prime minister, which are then deposited in the Toshakhana.

    Shahid Khaqan said that later the military secretary writes to the official that such a thing has been gifted, quoting the price if the PM wants to buy it for personal use. If you don’t buy them, they auction the gifts.

    The former premier said that his son took some watches from Toshakhana after paying the amount they asked for it. He added that he left the rest of the gifts in Toshakhana.

    The debate on Toshakhana started when former PM Imran Khan was accused of acquiring gifts without giving their full payment and selling them for profit.

  • No luxury cars, no five-star hotels, federal cabinet’s perks and salaries cut amid economic crisis

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has announced major cuts in perks and facilities that were being given to the federal cabinet as the economic crisis worsens.

    Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Islamabad, the Premier, flanked by members of the federal cabinet, said that ministers, state ministers and special advisers had decided “willingly” to forego their salaries and perks. He said that all ministers would now pay their own telephone, electricity, water and gas bills.

    The premier further said that federal ministers would also travel in economy class and will not stay in five-star hotels during foreign trips.

    He asserted that no cabinet member or government officer will use a luxury car, adding that “Until June 2024, there will be a complete ban on purchasing all types of new cars.”

    The head of government also said that “to conserve gas and electricity, advice for opening offices at 7:30am during summer has been accepted.”

    Shehbaz Sharif said that it has also been decided that government employees will not be allotted more than one plot, saying that this would be implemented from tomorrow.

    He said that in terms of food, only a single dish would be allowed at government events.

    Talking about the Toshakhana, the premier said that the federal cabinet has decided that no one will be allowed to retain state gifts worth more than $300 (approx. Rs70,000). He also added that the government has decided to make the Toshakhana record public.

    Responding to a question from a reporter, PM Shehbaz said that the measures would save Rs200 billion annually.

    He said that matters with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are at the “last stage” and hoped that everything will go well.

    The development has taken place while Pakistan is eyeing a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week as the country reels under a foreign reserve shortage.

    Earlier this week, the National Assembly passed the IMF-dictated Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023, seeking to impose an additional Rs170 billion in taxes.

  • Toshakhana case: Court summons Imran Khan to appear in person on Jan 9

    Toshakhana case: Court summons Imran Khan to appear in person on Jan 9

    A district and sessions court in Islamabad has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to appear in person before the court on January 9 (Monday) and issued a notice to him in this regard.

    The court has admitted the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea against Khan in the Toshakana case.

    On December 12, the court reserved its verdict after a plea filed by ECP.

    Last month, ECP, in a consensus verdict in the Toshakana reference, disqualified the former prime minister and ruled that the PTI chief was no more a member of the National Assembly.

    The ECP stated that the PTI chief had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

  • ‘Gen Bajwa apkay mohsin thay, aap mohsinkush niklay’: PM Shehbaz to Imran Khan

    ‘Gen Bajwa apkay mohsin thay, aap mohsinkush niklay’: PM Shehbaz to Imran Khan

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s benefactor, but the former Premier betrayed him.

    “General Bajwa was your benefactor; you have betrayed him,” said PM Shehbaz to Khan while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

    In reply to a question about the former army chief, Shehbaz Sharif said that since General Bajwa has hung up his boots, he should be allowed to live in peace.

    PM Shehbaz on Daily Mail:

    The prime minister said that Khan and his “minions” were “heartless” when they got involved with Daily Mail.

    “They thought that if this damages Pakistan’s reputation, it won’t matter. They wanted to embarrass the Sharif family no matter what,” the prime minister said.

    “This isn’t just an apology to me, this is an apology to the 220 million people and the mothers and daughters who were affected in the floods,” he said about the apology issued to him by the British newspaper.

    The prime minister also noted that Daily Mail published the apology to him in one million printed copies last Sunday. “This is Daily Mail’s timeline. This was a huge conspiracy against Pakistan, but it was Allah’s mercy that it was proven wrong,” he said.

    “I do not use the word ‘fraud’, but this is what Imran did”: Shehbaz Sharif

    The Prime Minister then talked about the Toshakhana scandal, stating that Imran sold the one-of-a-kind watch that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman had gifted to him.

    “Imran made a cheap move by selling the watch that contained the image of Holy Kaaba,” Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that nobody can deny that the watch was not sold after the evidence that has come to light.

    “I do not use the word ‘fraud’, but that is what Imran did. The shop owner — whose receipts that PTI showed — has also clarified that it is not his handwriting on the receipt,” PM Shehbaz pointed out.

    Khan’s treatment with other politicians

    Berating PTI further, PM Shehbaz said that the former rulering party tried to malign Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, his family, and his party by levelling baseless allegations against them.

  • Session court to announce verdict in Toshakhana case against Khan on Dec 15

    Session court to announce verdict in Toshakhana case against Khan on Dec 15

    A district and sessions court reserved its verdict on a plea filed by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the Toshakhana case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    The verdict will be announced at 2pm on December 15.

    During today’s hearing, ECP’s lawyer Saad Hassan appeared before the court and presented his arguments.

    “Imran Khan said that he constructed a road with the money [acquired from] Toshakhana [gifts],” he said, adding that a prime minister has to deposit any gift they receive to the Toshakhana.

    He further stated that the Toshakhana gifts could be retained after paying 20 per cent of the gift’s price until the PTI government introduced a new law which allowed taking the Toshakhana gifts after paying 50 per cent of its price.

    “The price of the watch was estimated at Rs.85 million,” he said, adding that Khan failed to state the amount for which he sold the Toshakhana watch.

    Imran Khan said that he has deposited the amount [ he paid for] for all the items in the same bank account, the counsel told the court.

    Last month, ECP, in a consensus verdict in the Toshakana reference, disqualified the former prime minister and ruled that the PTI chief was no more a member of the National Assembly.

    The ECP stated that the PTI chief had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

    The ECP stated that the PTI chief had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

  • Bilawal Bhutto calls Imran Khan a ‘ghari chor’

    Bilawal Bhutto calls Imran Khan a ‘ghari chor’

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after the PTI chief did a press conference about the Toshakhana watch scandal.

    Taking to Twitter, the minister called Khan a “ghari chor”. He asked whether Khan had dissolved the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies. “Of course not”, he said.

    He said that Khan’s efforts to turn “institutions into his tiger force to do his unconstitutional bidding failed before and will fail again.”

    On Sunday, Khan accused the media of looking the other way on important matters and instead focusing on what he implied were trivial issues, such as the Toshakhana watch scandal.

    “The channels that used to bash the PTI government for inflation, those channels are quiet now and are instead focused on a watch,” he said in a press conference in Lahore.

    “It’s my watch. I can sell it, or do whatever I want. No one is talking about the economic murder being committed right now.”

    Last month, Bilawal predicted that Khan’s party would not resign from assemblies despite his announcement to do so. He, further claimed that Khan is “lying” as he will not resign from Punjab and KP assemblies.

  • ‘Meri gharri hai, mai bechoon ya jo marzi karoon’: Imran Khan

    ‘Meri gharri hai, mai bechoon ya jo marzi karoon’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has accused the media of looking the other way on important matters and instead focusing on what he implied were trivial issues, such as the Toshakhana watch scandal.

    “The channels that used to bash the PTI government for inflation, those channels are quiet now and are instead focused on a watch,” he said in a press conference in Lahore.

    “It’s my watch. I can sell it, or do whatever I want. No one is talking about the economic murder being committed right now.”

    Referring to his opponents, Imran Khan said the “gang of thieves” has properties in foreign countries worth billions of dollars, hence they do not care about the economic collapse of the country.

    He added that the US dollar will further shoot up and there would be no foreign investment “if Pakistan defaults”.

    “A group of thieves has been imposed on us,” the deposed premier said, adding that the gang has been stealing national wealth for the past 30 years. He also said they were laundering the looted money abroad via illegal means including hundi and hawala.

    He again criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan and the establishment of supporting the ruling alliance led by the PML-N during the recent by-polls in the country.

    “Maryam Nawaz reached [homeland] first, then Ishq Dar was dry cleaned and now Suleman Shehbaz will be dry cleaned,” Imran Khan said.

    “We all knew who gave them NRO-II,” the former Prime Minister said and asked if the Constitution has room for NRO-II.

    The PTI chairman feared that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will not move towards elections.

    Addressing the new military leadership in the presser, the former premier said: “The new regime which has recently taken over should think about the country for God’s sake. National security institutions should see what is happening with the country.”

    He also stressed that the nation and army go hand in hand, not separately.