Imran sold foreign gifts worth millions in market, says Marriyum

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has accused former prime minister Imran Khan of selling gifts worth millions of rupees received from foreign governments.

“He [Imran Khan] bought cufflinks, ring and watch for Rs20 million from Toshakhana (gift depository) and sold it for Rs180 million in the market,” said the ruling party spokesperson while speaking to the media in Islamabad.

“Gold-plated Kalashankof is also missing and it will be recovered from Bani Gala [residence of former PM Imran].”

Marriyum said the former PTI-led government under the guise of national security refused to reveal the details of Toshakhana because “they sold gifts” received from the foreign dignitaries in the market.

The previous government on several occasions refused to provide details of foreign gifts received by then PM Imran and approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to stop Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) from making the details of the gifts public.

The government maintained that the disclosure of any information related to Toshakhana would jeopardise the international ties.

Also read: Govt’s ‘hesitancy’ in disclosing PM Imran’s gifts questioned

Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division. Established in 1974, it stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials by heads of other governments, states and foreign dignitaries.

It is mandatory that gifts of a certain value are kept in Toshakhana. However, officials can keep these gifts provided they pay a certain percentage of the price assessed by the Toshakhana evaluation committee.

Speaking about other issues, the spokesperson said the chief military spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar had exposed the “lies” of PTI chief Imran that the US had orchestrated his ouster from power.

“For the first time in country’s history the corrupt rulers were removed from power through constitutional means and today all institutions are working independently,” she added.