Foreign firm denies rumours of selling Toshakhana gifts

ISLAMABAD:

 

In yet another turn of events in the Toshakhana controversy, the Styleoutwatches on Friday rejected rumours about the state gifts received by PTI chief Imran Khan, saying that they never bought or sold the Graff Mecca Map diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon minute repeater wristwatch.

“We certify that we never bought or sold the Graff Mecca Map diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon minute repeater watch along with diamond cufflinks and round diamonds gent's ring, as well as rose gold pen set with diamonds to any person,” the clarified in a statement.

“Any information about the watch being sold for USD250,000 is incorrect and baseless,” the company clarified and further said that they disclaimed all liability towards selling the watch set.

The statement came amid rumours on social media that Styleoutwatches had sold the watch for 250k USD in 2019. On Tuesday, Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor stirred controversy after he claimed on a private news channel that he had bought a Graff wristwatch, originally gifted to Imran Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for 7.5 million Dirhams, in cash or equal to $2 million dollars.

The company said that it had come to their attention through various public and media sources that their verified Instagram page is being used politically on various social media and public posts.

“We were approached by undisclosed person, to market this watch using our Instagram page,” it stated, adding that later, however, they were told that this watch has already been sold by a third party.

The company said that they reserve the right to sue and take legal action against anyone using their name and their brand to sell and market the watch.

In a video going viral on social media apparently released by the Dubai-based luxury watch sellers, it was further clarified that the watch was one of a kind and was sold by them in 2019 for $250 000.

“We have to clarify something because there is a lot of media hype and political problems going on about a particular watch,” a man in the video says.

He maintained that they did not sell the MasterGraff Tourbillon minute repeater watch that Imran Khan had taken from the Toshakhana.

“What we did do is we got it for promotion and marketing reasons,” he said, adding that they took the watch from an undisclosed person, made the pictures and posted it on social media to create attention and hype in 2019.

“Then, we returned the watch to the person and whatever happened before or after, we don’t know,” he clarified. He requested the people to keep them out of the matter.