ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government is reported to have decided to make public details related to Toshakhana, a repository maintained by the Cabinet Division for the purpose of maintaining, preserving and storing the gifts given by the foreign countries to Pakistani leaders.
Also read: Toshakhana fiasco: Who is Umar Farooq Zahoor?
The decision, taken at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, came after a detailed report of inter-ministerial committee on the subject. The committee was formed to formulate a new Toshakhana policy based on international best practices and principles of openness and transparency. The cabinet is believed to have suggested a few amendments in the new Toshakhana policy.
During the course of meeting today, PM Shehbaz Sharif was quoted as saying that nothing would be kept hidden from the masses.
It is pertinent to mention here that on January 19, during the course of proceedings in Lahore High Court (LHC) related to a petition that seeks details of gifts obtained by dignitaries, bureaucrats and officials from the Toshakhana since 1947, the federal government had expressed apprehensions that the public disclosure of such articles could cause “unnecessary media hype, which might be potentially damaging to the interests of Pakistan in the conduct of international relations”.
Also read: LHC summons details of gifts sold from Toshakhana since 1947
Ignoring all of press conferences and media hype by federal ministers and their political allies about Toshkhana gifts retained by former premier Imran Khan, and dragging Saudi leadership as well as a UAE-based controversial figure into domestic politics, the federal government in its written response submitted before Justice Asim Hafeez of LHC stated: “the Prime Minister’s Office (dated 26-11.2015), declared that the information pertaining to Toshakhana gifts is classified as disclosure of such information can cause unnecessary media hype, which could be potentially damaging to the interests of Pakistan in the conduct of international relations.”
Also read: Toshakhana gifts’ disclosure could harm Pakistan’s foreign relations, govt tells LHC
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz Sharif has assigned portfolio of Public Communication and Digital Reforms to Special Assistant Fahad Haroon.
