Tag: Watches

  • Imran Khan recognized selecting Usman Buzdar as CM Punjab was mistake: Zulfi Bukhari

    Imran Khan recognized selecting Usman Buzdar as CM Punjab was mistake: Zulfi Bukhari

    In a candid discourse at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, a close aide to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, publicly acknowledged that appointing Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister of Punjab was a monumental mistake for the party, as per Geo News.

    Speaking on the theme of “Democracy in Crisis,” organized by the SOAS Pakistan Discussion Forum, Bukhari delved into the intricacies of PTI’s nearly four-year tenure, addressing critical questions from the student audience.

    Bukhari disclosed that Imran Khan himself recognized the misstep in selecting Usman Buzdar for the pivotal role of Punjab Chief Minister.

    “There was Aleem Khan group and other power groups. There would have been a war within the PTI if Buzdar was removed and Imran Khan did the right thing by sticking to him, to avoid the war within,” said Bukhari.

    The former special assistant to the Prime Minister, now residing in London and active in advocating for Imran Khan’s case on international media, expressed his reservations about Buzdar’s performance.

    He asserted that Buzdar’s incapacity to deliver effectively was evident

    He said: “I don’t think he was a good chief minister and was able to perform and deliver. By the time calls against Buzdar grew after two years, it was too late and changing him after a year or two would have made the post a revolving door. Nobody would say Usman Buzdar was a good decision but we supported his decisions.”

    Addressing recent controversies, Bukhari distanced himself and PTI from Farah Gogi, best friend and confidante of former first lady Bushra Bibi. He emphasized that if allegations of Gogi’s corruption were true, she should face strict legal consequences.

    Responding to questions about Imran Khan’s defense of Gogi in the media, Bukhari clarified that Khan was unaware of Gogi’s business dealings and that investigating her was not within his purview.

    The former special assistant to PM also condemned the May 9 attacks on military installations.

    “We have condemned all forms of violence, especially the attack on Jinnah House which has a sacred value. We have always stood against violence. Ordinary people say things in the heat of emotions. It’s the job of the leadership to positively tunnel their emotions towards a democratic process to bring about a real change. We are the biggest stakeholder being the biggest political party and we will get more losses than others in any such scenario,” said Bukhari.

    Imran Khan’s former special assistant claimed that over 13,000 activists were arrested after May 9 and put in dire conditions but the rest have been released and around 7,000 remain in jails.

    Acknowledging PTI’s mistakes during their governance, Bukhari asserted that with a different leadership in place, those errors would not be repeated if given another chance.

    He expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with all political parties, including PML-N and PPP, for the betterment of elections and democracy.

    “We want them to sit with us and talk about elections and democracy,” said the PTI leader.

    He also revealed that things were initially fine between PTI and the army but issues started later on.

    He said: “As far as General Bajwa is concerned, he could have suggested things to the PM and not dictate.”

    Answering a question, Bukhari said that two people closest to Imran Khan during the PTI govt were behind making a false case against him.

    “The Ring Road case against me was framed by two people who were then closest to Imran Khan: one of them (Azam Khan) has now become an approver against Khan and another (Shehzad Akbar) has left Pakistan. The purpose was to campaign against me. I resigned from my position and didn’t return to the government after that.”

  • ‘Iss tarhaa ki audio college ke bachay bhi bana lete hain’: Zulfi Bukhari responds to audio leak

    ‘Iss tarhaa ki audio college ke bachay bhi bana lete hain’: Zulfi Bukhari responds to audio leak

    Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide of Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has denied the authenticity of an audio recording between him and former First Lady Bushra Bibi which surfaced online earlier in the day.

    In a tweet, he said that he has neither bought or sold any watches. “Earlier, it was being said that watches were sold to a person named Umar Zahoor through Farah Gujjar. But when a legal notice was served [to Zahoor], a new story popped up that I have sold the watches”, he said.

    Bukhari went on to say that “even college students can make such cut-copy-paste audio”.

    He also demanded that a forensic audit of the audio should be immediately conducted and he is “ready to pay for it”.

    Prior to this, the audio got leaked, in which Bushra Bibi can be heard allegedly discussing selling Toshakhana watches with Bukhari. According to the clip, Bushra asks Zulfi to sell her husband’s watches as they are of no use to him. Zulfi Bukhari can be heard agreeing with his party chairman’s wife.

    It is pertinent to mention here that this is the second time that Bushra Bibi’s audio got leaked. Earlier in the year, another alleged leaked audio of the former First Lady came to light in which she 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.”

  • ‘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.”

  • Rolex to begin certifying used watches as original

    Rolex to begin certifying used watches as original

    Luxury watchmaker Rolex SA will start issuing certificates of authenticity to authorised dealers selling pre-owned Rolex watches.

    According to the report, Bucherer, a Swiss retailer, will be the first to start offering pre-owned Rolex watches that have been certified as authentic by the brand at its retail locations across Europe.

    The report also stated that other authorised Rolex dealers can start taking part in the initiative in the spring of 2023.

    In an effort to deter market flippers who sell recently released watches above retail, Rolex stated that it will only certify timepieces that have been purchased at least three years prior.

    Rolex, a luxury brand whose timepieces predominate in secondhand sales through dealers and online, is making a dramatic turn by authenticating its own used watches. Deloitte predicts that the market for high-end used watches would reach $35 billion by 2030.

    Prior to this, Rolex did not play a part in authenticating or monitoring the products it supplied to its dealer network. Additionally, the action will help to strengthen its brand and weed out fakes.

    Auction houses and unlicensed sellers of used watches both offline and online will not be permitted to take part in the programme.

    Secondhand watches have already been certified by other Swiss watchmakers. The majority of pre-owned timepieces sold are Rolex watches.

    Independent brands like H. Moser & Cie and MB&F, as well as smaller rival brands like Vacheron Constantin and Zenith, sell pre-owned watches in their own boutiques. Richemont, which owns Vacheron as well as a stable of brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, and A. Lange & Sohne, purchased online retailer Watchfinder in 2018.

    Authorized dealers may occasionally sell certified pre-owned timepieces through the programme at a premium to those offered at retail rates for new watches in rare circumstances. These models include enduringly well-liked categories like the Rolex Submariner, Daytona, and GMT that frequently sell above retail pricing because retail demand outpaces supply.

    It was previously believed that the demand for luxury watches increased as a result of many wealthy customers learning about Swiss brands like Rolex, Omega, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe while confined to their houses during the pandemic.

    According to estimates from Morgan Stanley, Rolex is the largest Swiss watch brand, producing over 1 million watches annually, with annual sales of roughly 8 billion Swiss francs ($8.5 billion) and a market share of close to 29 per cent.

    As demand for Rolex, Omega, and Vacheron Constantin timepieces continued to soar, Swiss watch exports hit record highs in July, with prices rising to their highest levels in eight years, according to a report from Bloomberg in August.