Tosha Khana is the government department that stores gifts received by government officials. It is under the control of the Cabinet Division of Pakistan and was established in 1974. The main function of this department is to keep track of all the gifts that government officials, including ministers, foreign secretaries, and the president, receive.
Tosha Khana
Toshakhana is a department in the government that is responsible for the safekeeping of gifts received by government officials. The department was established in 1974, and its mission is to safeguard the government’s most valuable and prized possessions. Gifts received by ministers, foreign secretaries, and the President are kept here. These gifts are given to the government as a mark of appreciation and recognition for their work and commitments.
The Toshakhana is a government-owned department that falls under the Cabinet Division in Pakistan. The department’s main function is to maintain a record of all gifts received by government officials, including foreign dignitaries. The department stores gifts that are received by government officials, including foreign dignitaires, and keeps them in safekeeping.
After the scandal broke, Rana Abrar Khalid filed a Right-to-Information application to the Cabinet Division asking for details of the gifts received by PM Khan and his wife. The former PM maintained that all gifts were properly declared to the relevant authorities. However, he did not explain why he and his wife did not disclose the value of the gifts.
The Tosha Khana scandal also prompted several politicians in Pakistan to retain gifts that are received by foreign dignitaries. Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf is one of these individuals. Imran Khan’s party is currently protesting against the newly-formed government and faces potential scrutiny from the Election Commission of Pakistan. Imran Khan has been retaining the Tosha Khana gifts for the past few years and has only mentioned the scandal publicly once.
Imran Khan did not disclose the Tosha Khana gifts in his tax returns. Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi never filed any returns during the time period of this scandal. She did not even register for tax in Pakistan until July 2021. Tosha Khana in Pakistan is a tradition that dates back centuries.
On September 19, the Election Commission of Pakistan reserved its verdict on the Tosha Khana reference against Imran Khan. It also issued a notice to the parties in the case.
Bailtul Maal
A video shows a poor family in Islamabad, Pakistan, that lost everything in the October 8 Earthquake. The family is in need of immediate help, and Bailtul Maal is there to help them. The video features the children and parents, and it’s inspiring to see the determination and courage of this family.
Imran Khan’s disqualification for Tosha Khana gifts
Imran Khan’s disqualification for gifts to Tosha Khana is not final yet. Although the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a judgment against Khan, no detailed judgment has been released. The ruling coalition has applauded the decision and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says the ECP has done justice. He has also urged PTI leaders not to take the law into their own hands.
Imran Khan’s supporters have protested in major cities across Pakistan in support of their leader. Many PTI workers in Peshawar blocked a major highway. The PTI leader also sought intervention from the high court in Islamabad.
The government filed a reference against Imran Khan in August. The ruling coalition lawmakers filed the reference, which was forwarded to the Chief Election Commissioner. Khan was found guilty of failing to declare some of his gifts and profited from the sale of others. Imran Khan has pleaded not guilty but has admitted to buying items worth almost 22 million rupees and reselling them for more than double the cost.
The PTI refused to disclose Imran’s gifts while in government and claimed that it would jeopardize international ties. However, the PIC forced the party to disclose the gifts in response to the application. Imran Khan later confessed to selling four of the gifts while serving as prime minister.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to appeal the ruling of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Imran Khan’s disqualification for gifts to Tosha Khana was based on the fact that he did not declare the value of the gifts in his income tax returns. In April, he said he did not disclose the value of the gifts.
According to the ECP, Khan failed to declare his earnings from selling Tosha Khana presents during his tenure as prime minister. The case has been dubbed as one of the most publicized cases in Pakistan’s history. A ruling by the ECP will result in disqualification of the PTI chief from the National Assembly.
The disqualification of Imran Khan in the Tosha Khana gifts in Pakistan is a major setback for the PTI’s electoral campaign. The ruling will lead to the disqualification of the PTI’s candidate, and his party has called for a nationwide strike.
Illegal sale of gifts at Tosha Khana
The government will introduce a new policy that will make gifts offered at Tosha Khana public. According to a senior federal cabinet official, the new policy will go into effect within a month. The official declined to be named but said authorities are preparing to introduce the new law.
The government is required to make public the values of the gifts it receives and sells during Tosha Khana and the amount received by recipients. This new policy will resolve the problem and make the process more transparent. Once the new policy is implemented, all Tosha Khana gifts will be made public.
However, the PIC’s order was challenged by the Cabinet Division in the Islamabad High Court. The government argued that the PIC had no lawful authority to make this order. They also claimed that disclosing Toshakhana information would jeopardize international ties.
The Prime Minister Imran Khan is also facing an inquiry from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The Prime Minister received state gifts worth Rs18 crore during his time in office. However, he failed to deposit the gifts at the state gift repository. He instead gave the necklace to Zulfi Karbhari, who sold it to a Lahore jeweller for Rs18 crore.
The PTI leader is also facing criticism for allegedly selling Tosha Khana gifts at Dubai. Shehbaz Sharif claimed that the former Prime Minister Imran Khan sold the Toshakhana gifts for PKR 140 million in Dubai. The gifts were diamond jewellery sets, bracelets, and wristwatches. Moreover, they failed to report their sales in the income tax returns.
