ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court's (IHC) Justice Mian Gul Hassan on Wednesday observed the Toshakhana gifts should be retrieved from the individuals who had taken them home.
"People come and go but the Office of the Prime Minister remains at the same place. Every gift given [to the head of the state/government official] belongs to their office, not to be taken home," Justice Hassan remarked during the hearing of Cabinet Division's petition challenging the Information Commission's orders regarding the Toshakhana details.
The Information Commission had ordered the provision of Toshakhana gifts' details to the complainant. However, the Cabinet Division maintained that the exchange of gifts between the heads of the states is a reflection of inter-state relations and revealing the details of these gifts can affect these relations.
At the outset of the hearing, Deputy Attorney-General Arshad Kiyani appeared before the court on the Centre's behalf and sought an extension for receiving directives from the authorities concerned.
Advocate Rana Abid raised an objection over the Cabinet Division's plea, asking how the matter pertaining to selling the Toshakhana gifts affect Pakistan's reputation in the eyes of other countries.
At this, court said details of the gifts received by former prime minister Imran Khan should be released.
The court remarked that there is no stay on the Information Commission's order [...] instead, the Cabinet Division is bound to provide details.
Justice Hassan noted that there is nothing wrong in keeping the gifts for themselves after paying for it, but only if it is done to a limited extent.
He directed to make a policy to ensure that the gifts received by the head of the state will only be deposited in the treasury.
"The gifts are not only received, but given to the heads of other countries with the money collected through people's taxes. Therefore, the incoming gifts should be kept as public property," Justice Hassan remarked.
He objected that the policy to pay a certain percentage of the gift's value and take it home shouldn't have been there.
"Such a policy means there is a sale of gifts."
Responding to Kiyani's request, the court allowed him to get orders from the authorities but still follow the Information Commission's directive to provide the desired details to the complainant in the meantime.
Zulfikar Junior says Zulfikar Bhutto was not a king, emperor or sultan, he was a servant of whole Pakistan
The Ministry of Commerce Division would provide the secretariat support
He says Punjab govt’s proposal for Rs218 billion canals project had not been presented to the CCI
Pakistan has bound 98.6% of its tariff lines in WTO, with an average WTO bound tariff rate of 60.8%
As of now, male voters stand at 71,654,092 , while female voters have reached 61,763,413
Notably, on account of January 2025 FCA, authority asked K-Electric to refund Rs3.02 per unit to its clients
