‘Incomplete record’: PTI calls for disclosure of Toshakhana items retained by generals and judges – Pakistan

A day after the federal government made public the details of foreign gifts retained by public workplace holders from 2002 to 2022, the PTI demanded on Monday that particulars of the Toshakhana items acquired by army generals and judges must also be disclosed.

Established in 1974, the Tosha­khana is a division underneath the executive management of the Cupboard Division and shops treasured items given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officers by heads of different governments and states and overseas dignitaries.

In accordance with Toshakhana guidelines, items/presents and different such supplies acquired by individuals to whom these guidelines apply shall be reported to the Cupboard Division.

On Sunday, the main points of Toshakhana had been up to date on the web site of the Cupboard Division. Distinguished personalities who benefited from the items included President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former premier Imran Khan, ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, later army dictator Pervez Musharraf and others.

As per the paperwork, many of the items had been retained by the workplace holders freed from price apart from just a few ones. In return for the items acquired from overseas dignitaries, these public workplace holders, particularly the rulers, gave away items price thousands and thousands of rupees to the overseas delegates.

In a video assertion shared on PTI’s Twitter at the moment, former data minister Fawad Chaudhry mentioned that the record of Toshkhana items had revealed how the “Sharif and Zardari households looted the Toshakhana”.

“This record is one other proof of the best way these households betrayed the individuals of Pakistan. Within the final 15 months, these individuals levelled a string of accusations towards Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi associated to Toshakhana.

“However the actuality is that if there was anybody who opted for a authorized technique to retain the Toshakhana items, it was Imran Khan,” the PTI chief mentioned, including that his social gathering chairman had retained the least variety of items.

He claimed that the Zardari and Sharif households “blatantly misused the legislation” and retained items price thousands and thousands. “They didn’t even depart a field of pineapples.”

Chaudhry additional mentioned that the record launched by the federal government was “incomplete” because it solely included data from 2002.

“A listing of items retained since earlier than 1988 ought to be launched and together with that, the items of generals and judges ought to be included within the record.

“I consider that the thought of sacred doctrine ought to come to an finish in Pakistan and with politicians, the items of judges and basic must also be disclosed,” Chaudhry demanded.

The PTI chief additionally requested the Lahore Excessive Court docket — on whose orders the Toshakhana report was made public — to type an unbiased judicial fee to find out if the funds of the items had been made as per the legislation and whether or not they had been declared.

“Khawaja Asif has retained watches price thousands and thousands of rupees … has he proven these watches in his tax data? Does the FBR (Federal Bureau of Income) have the report of all these [gifts]?” he requested.

Chaudhry additionally acknowledged that an unbiased fee ought to probe the issues of the Toshakhana items.

Many exposed as Toshakhana details surface