ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday ordered the recovery of foreign gifts taken by public office holders from Toshakana.
IHC judge Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb issued the order while hearing a petition filed against sharing the details of the foreign gifts retained by former prime minister Imran Khan.
The foreign gifts belong to the state and cannot be taken to home, remarked Justice Aurangzeb, adding: “Bring back the gifts if anyone has taken them to home”.
The high court also ordered to public the details of the foreign gifts retained by Imran Khan while being in the Office.
Deputy Attorney General Arshad Kiani has sought two-week time to submit response, saying the Establishment Division is in contact with the new government and will inform after receiving directives from it.
Meanwhile, petitioner’s counsel Rana Abid Nazir argued that making the details of foreign gifts public will affect Pakistan’s relations with other countries.
The court has adjourned the case for two weeks.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a meeting with journalists revealed that his predecessor Imran Khan sold Toshakhana gifts for Rs140 million in Dubai.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the former prime minister took diamond jewellery sets, wrist watches and bracelets from the Toshakhana and sold them in the Gulf country.
Meanwhile, former federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry slammed PM Shehbaz on his statement.
He claimed that Khan had bought a watch from Toshakhana and later sold it, saying it is not an offence.
PM Shehbaz accuses Imran Khan of selling foreign gifts for Rs140 million in Dubai