Imran Khan Toshakhana reference: Security beefed up as ECP set to announce verdict today

ISLAMABAD: Security around the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) building and elsewhere in and around Red Zoe was beefed up ahead of the verdict in the Toshakhana reference against Imran Khan, which was scheduled to be announced at 2pm today.

Reports and data collected by MM News revealed that some 1150 police personnel, led by an SSP and comprising 5 SPs and 6 DSPs had been deployed to restrict any untoward movement or incident towards the ECP.

Besides this, personnel of law enforcement agencies including Rangers and Frontier Constabulary had also been deployed as part of the the heightened security measures. 

ملکی سیاست کیا رخ لے گی؟، فیصلہ 2 بجے، الیکشن کمیشن میں سخت سیکیورٹی انتظامات کئے گئے ہیں،1150 اہلکار تعینات۔ pic.twitter.com/K5GJu4NmHq

— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) October 21, 2022

Anticipating a possible protest by PTI workers in the wake of Toshakhana verdict, Police personnel equipped with tear gas shells were also spotted sitting near the Election Commission building.

الیکشن کمیشن کے باہر ممکنہ احتجاج کے پیش نظر آنسو گیس کے شیل بھی پہنچا دیئے گئے۔ pic.twitter.com/QQEANVgyBM

— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) October 21, 2022

Commenting on the security arrangements across Islamabad, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry commented that the city was presenting a look of fortress besieged by some major army.

اسلام آباد اس وقت ایسے قلعے کا منظر پیش کر رہا ہے جو بڑی فوج کے محاصرے میں ہو، ابھی تو جنگ کا آغاز ہوا ہے ابھی سے گھبرا گئے؟ لاکھوں لوگ جب گھیراؤ کریں گے تو بھاگنے کی جبکہ نہیں رہنی معاملات کو Point of No Return پر نہ لے کر جاؤ #ImranKhanOurRedLine

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 21, 2022

The ECP had reserved its verdict in the case on September 19, and yesterday, it issued notice to all relevant parties or their counsels to appear before the electoral watchdog at its secretariat in Islamabad today.

The reference was filed against the PTI chairman by the coalition government, for “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts and proceeds from their alleged sale.

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

According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.