Ministers hail gift case verdict

Federal ministers on Saturday hailed the Toshakhana-2 verdict against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, saying the sentence awarded to the couple is in line with the law.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the Toshakhana-2 verdict was based on justice, saying state gifts were fraudulently undervalued so a smaller amount was paid to the government and claiming the exchequer suffered losses of millions of rupees.

Tarar said the gifts were assessed at a much lower value through fraud, kept for personal use after causing the state a loss running into millions of rupees, and claimed Bushra Bibi withheld the gifts and took financial benefit.

Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik said the decision was in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and said the PTI founder and his wife got the Bulgari set assessed at a lower value.

Minister of State for Railways and Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani said depositing the gift in the Toshakhana was mandatory and added fraud was committed by buying the gift for a pittance.

Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry said it was good to see the outcome, but added the decisions should have come earlier so those involved would not have had the opportunity to raise questions.