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On the order of the court, the record of the gifts taken from Toshakhana was made public. In this regard, however, one point has been made that the court asked to make the record pubic from 1985 until now. But the govt only made the record public from 1985 to 2000, probably because it had two periods of both PML-N and PP.
The federal government probably thought that in the record of the last twenty-two years, General Musharraf had eight years, Imran Khan had about four years, and PPP and PML-N would have five five-year periods each. Make. The court has taken notice of this and now it is likely that the record of the nineties will also become public.
This is a demand that many people have been making for years, Imran Khan’s government also refused saying that it was a matter of diplomatic sensitivities, that friendly countries who gave gifts would be angry if this became public.
What is Toshakhana?
Tosha literally means room for storing equipment. This includes gifts given to Heads of Government/States or delegations on foreign visits. It happens that when the Pakistani Prime Minister, President or any other high-level delegation goes on a foreign visit, the government or the ruler of that place gives gifts etc. to the delegation. These gifts are not considered personal gifts because they are given to delegations or officials representing the State of Pakistan. Therefore, in principle, they come under the purview of the mattress.
The rule for these gifts was that the members of the delegation deposit the gift in the Toshakhana or if they want to keep it (as a souvenir) they can take it home after paying a certain price. Initially, a gift could be kept by paying 10, 15%, then it was probably reduced to 20%, during Imran Khan’s tenure, the law was amended to 50%.
How is the price determined?
There is a committee to determine the value of the gift, which includes three people from the Board of Revenue and the Finance Department. There is also a global estimation list in this regard which gives some guidance. This committee evaluates each gift and assigns a value to it. Another value is added to make the system foolproof. Yes, this is done by private sector professionals.
However, these experts will also be related to the experts on the panel of Cabinet Division. These two prices are compared, if there is a difference of fifteen to twenty percent, then the higher price is considered final. Then according to the law, the gift can be kept by paying 10 to 20 percent and now 50 percent.
Is taking gifts from Toshakhana robbery?
There is disagreement with the term looting. Gifts from Toshakhana are taken in accordance with the law of the country. If no one violated the law, how can it be called bad or wrong? How did this robbery or corruption happen?
A person visits a foreign country with a government delegation, there he is given a gift, he has two options, he can deposit the gift in a Toshakhana or if he likes it and wants to keep it, his law. Pay accordingly and take it home. Please understand here that there is no kind of nepotism.
Why did journalists take gifts?
This list also contains the name of some journalists, most of them are those who have been close to PML-N or PPP and are criticizing Imran Khan nowadays. Photographers are also included. These are also understandable because every official delegation includes PTV, APP reporters, photographers, obviously they received gifts and paid for them.
Now the names of those journalists who do not have good relations with the rulers or who have not gone on foreign visits cannot come in it. Those whose names are not mentioned, it does not mean that they are very good, good and principled journalists, but that they did not go on the tour. They don’t get gifts and when they don’t, there is no question of taking them. Journalists who took gifts did not commit any crime. He did one thing according to the law, so criticizing him is illegitimate.
In this regard, however, it is important to mention the prominent journalist, anchor Rauf Klasra. In 2010, they were together on a visit, they received a watch as a gift, the price of this watch was fixed at 120,000. The Ministry sent him a voucher of 16 thousand rupees with respect to 12 percent that he can take the watch after payment. Rauf Klasra had a principled stand that he should not accept gifts.
He returned the voucher and deposited it in the Toshakhana. This is also proved by the record which became public yesterday. Rauf Klasra deserves praise and admiration for this, although it would not have been wrong if he had paid and taken the gift as per the law.
PML-N, PPP and PTI
PPP and PML-N have been at the top in this, Mian Nawaz Sharif and Zardari took numerous gifts with great noise, including luxury cars. Gift lists for them are all over social media, so it’s unnecessary to repeat them.
It seems that Imran Khan was probably not much interested in these gifts or his visits were relatively few, but he also took watches etc. and because of that he was criticized. Nawaz Sharif and Zardari etc. preferred ten to fifteen percent payment.
The interesting thing is that Imran Khan also took the gifts first according to the old method, then maybe he realized or got attention or the watch controversy made him more sensitive, but it is still a fact that Imran Khan is the one who gets this credit. It is said that he made a law to pay 50% instead of 15% for receiving gifts. This is now in effect.
The people of Jamaat-e-Islami, JUI
Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI Fazlur Rehman appear surprisingly largely unblemished and clean in this report. Maulana Fazlur Rehman obviously traveled in many journeys, not in these names list. His son Asad Mahmood is in the name list, he was given a watch, but he deposited it. JUI senator Talha Mehmood is unknown, but she bought a few watches from the auction, which is apparently in accordance with the law. No name of any member of Jamaat-e-Islami. Similarly, an interesting name is that of Maulana Tahir Ashrafi. He is criticized in many respects, but he came out clear from Toshakhana, he was also given a watch, it was deposited. The role of religious people is commendable in this regard.
Is taking gifts from politicians corruption and looting?
I don’t agree with that. According to the law they did so. It can be criticized that the law was made wrong. It can also be said that some gifts will have a relatively high price, but in any case, the price is fixed under a special mechanism and a committee of government officials.
In my personal opinion, although it is true that they received these gifts etc. due to their official position, there is definitely some difference between the former prime ministers Chaudhry Shujaat, Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan. Some Pakistani leaders had personal relationships with world leaders, especially the rulers of friendly Arab countries, or they wanted to give them more protocol. Just like a Pakistani ruler would be such that his car was driven by the Saudi Crown Prince. This was obviously done to show a special relationship, otherwise the royal family would have an entire army of chauffeurs.
Therefore, in some gifts, the personal personality of the Prime Minister or the President will also be involved in some way or the other. It is not necessary that the gifts given to former Prime Ministers Zafarullah Jamali or Chaudhry Shujaat or Shahid Khaqan Abbasi should be given to Nawaz Sharif or Imran Khan or President Zardari, the last three must have been given special treatment.
Where did the mistake happen?
When the details of Toshakhana came out, it was a big blow to the PML-N and PPP. The main reason for this was their wrong and illegal propaganda. Many people in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf are inexperienced and ignorant of government regulations. They may be forgivable if they criticize many issues in their immaturity, but the PML-N and PPP who have been in government for many times.
That is why Maryam Nawaz Sharif is facing regret that she used to criticize Imran Khan for taking the things she used to accuse him of stealing from Toshakhana, now they are all belonging to her respected father and other family members. But it was also proved. This is what happened to the PPP people. While spewing poison on others, his own burger has turned out to be poisonous.
Imran Khan’s mistake
It is not Imran Khan’s mistake legally. It was permissible and proper to take watches or any other goods from the Toshakhana on payment of fixed amount. However, there is nothing in the law that they cannot sell the taken items. However, it is morally wrong. In fact, it is common sense that any gift from the royal family should be kept as a souvenir. Who sells the gifts?
Especially when it is known that it is a special item, of a unique style, if you sell it, word will get out and it will be heartbreaking if the gift giver finds out that the gifts he gave were sold in the market to raise money. Imran Khan should admit his mistake. It is the fault of his wife Ms. or one of his trusted friends was foolish, the responsibility is always on Imran Khan.
Was the law violated?
The PDM government claims that the gifts Imran Khan took were tampered with in two or three respects.
First, the price was set below the market. The government ministers are exaggerating the price in this regard.
Second, the gifts were allegedly under-invoiced and after selling them, the money was given to the Tosha Khana, which was a violation of procedure.
Apparently these are allegations, their investigation is not difficult as it is a matter of facts and figures. The price is determined by a committee consisting of government employees, they should be asked. Second, when it was taken and when it was deposited, it is also a matter of dates.
In this regard, it is also important to understand that the price of things is not obvious, which can be possible through auction in the open market. It is natural for these officials to get a little advantage.
The mistake of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari
In my view, Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari taking vehicles from Toshakhana is wrong and a violation of the law. According to the law, an antique cannot be sold, it will be kept in a museum, similarly cars cannot be taken, instead they will go to the government car pool. This is understandable. It is not known how Nawaz Sharif and Zardari took BMW and similar luxury cars at very low prices, even though the cars could not be taken legally despite fixing the price.
What should happen?
There is an urgent need to amend the law regarding Toshakhana.
A clear policy should be made regarding goods in Toshakhana. The procedure of price determination should be made more transparent. It should be enshrined in law that what is bought, shall not be sold in the market afterwards, it shall be a punishable offence.
A category can be made regarding the gifts of Toshakhana so that items below a certain price can be bought at half price, so that one can keep it as a souvenir if desired, while the more expensive items (above Rs. ) should be open auction in which outsiders can also participate.
Toshakhana records should be kept public on a regular basis, the value of items and who bought them should be updated on the website after each visit.