Stuck in the tug-of-war on who will be crowned the new Chief of Army Staff in Pakistan? There’s a new magnet — the sale of the Saudi Crown Prince’s million-dollar gift set by former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. The gift set, made by British jeweller Graff, comprised a diamond-dotted wristwatch, ring, cufflinks, and a pen. Like any true-crime podcast, the tale of pawned-off State gifts is much more scandalous, thrilling, and sensational than the selection of a new army chief — who all, by the way, wear the same uniform, if not the watch, and do what pleases them best.
Never in our history have we heard about a prime minister selling gifts from the Toshakhana in open market. Thank Imran Khan for small mercies. Going by the watch-sold-and-bought thriller, now, we have been introduced to a buyer of the gift set in Dubai who claims that he paid $2 million while the actual price of the customised piece is evaluated at $12 million. Umar Farooq Zahoor holds the watch and other accessories in various prime time television appearances. But the former PM claims that Zahoor is not the one the watch was sold to. A silver lining, at least no one is denying selling it.
Watches win matches
If Zahoor is not the buyer, then why does he have the gift that Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) gave to Imran Khan? Who is the real buyer? Certainly not MBS. And neither the rundown shop in Islamabad called Art of Time with the kacchi receipts submitted as official evidence. The ‘mera tohfa, meri marzi’ (my gift, my choice) rationale is not working anymore, nor is his past claim of “constructed road by selling expensive State gifts”. Caught in panic, team Imran Khan denied any association with the Dubai-based businessman, calling Zahoor an ‘international fraudster, a known criminal’.
But then the same ‘fraudster’ was present in official government meetings of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government. Fawad Chaudhry, who, in a presser, vehemently acted as not knowing Zahoor, was simultaneously found WhatsApping him. Chaudhry is known to be, at times, seeking relief for his party chairman over these allegations, and, at other times, giving away the information that there are more than one ‘missing’ watches. Buckle up, there are more twists and turns in this ghari saga than a plate of spaghetti.
Crime Master Gogi
The fascinating character in the entire saga is someone named Farah Gogi who the Dubai businessman claims he received the Graff gift from and to whom he made the cash payment in person. But this isn’t her debut. In the crooked deals of the past regime, her name (or rather names) has popped up — it’s the curious case of Farah Gogi aka Farah Gujjar or Farah Khan or Farhat Shehzadi. Or, as nicknamed by her husband, ‘Faree’. What’s in a name really when you’re introduced as the BFF of the First Lady of the time? Bushra Khan and Farah Gogi can be described as that tich-button couple that eats together, prays together, and trades together. Gogi was always seen beside the former First Lady in her official engagements, be it her tours to mental health hospitals or the so-called research centres for science and Sufism. If Bushra was there, Farah wasn’t far. Both remained the opening batswomen of their captain.
If the world knows Lady Gaga, Pakistan’s export is Lady Gogi on the run. Gogi first shot to fame not only because of her Birkin bags or Hermès shoes, murmurs of her being the ‘real’ chief minister of Punjab, or collecting kickbacks on the civil and police transfer and postings in the province as the front person for the First Lady and Prime Minister. Don’t you dare question the engagements of Gogi, Arsalan beta will link it to ghaddari. While Imran Khan is the first to run to Gogi’s defence — “Woh bechaari real estate ka kaam karti hai (the poor woman works in real estate)” — his party leaders are left claiming ‘We don’t know Gogi’. How can you not know someone who was a PM’s property dealer and trustee of his favourite Al Qadir institute of ‘higher powers’. The university, built on a 458-kanal land donated by business tycoon Malik Riaz, was a promise by Imran Khan of making roohaniyat (spirituality) a super science. But three years on, it has 37 students and millions of rupees in donations. And we thought by generating bijli from jinns, both Bushra and Imran would end our electricity bill woes.
In one leaked audio call, Malik Riaz’s daughter says that Gogi was unhappy that a three-carat diamond was given to the former First Lady. She argues that only a five-carat diamond will complement Bushra’s stature: “It is no big deal for the First Lady to own a three-carat ring, and it was unbecoming of her (Riaz’s daughter) to send something that anyone could own.” In another more damaging audio, PTI leader Aleem Khan tells how former Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence Asim Munir was removed from his post after he informed Imran Khan that a bribe from Malik Riaz, in the form of a diamond set, has come to the PM House. As luck would have it, the same Lt Gen. now tops the list to become the next COAS.
Now it would be a tragedy if Khan, after upcoming revelations of many diamond sets from the Toshakhana being sold, claims ignorance. For that won’t be bliss in his case. Especially when he has educated the qaum on how former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s wife was fond of expensive necklaces and bangles and was involved in corrupt practices like her husband. By the way, she has been sentenced to jail for 10 years on charges of bribery. Just saying. Not to forget from Khan’s treasure trove of wisdom: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was questioned by the police, not opposition—His crime? He took State gifts.
Also read: Dubai businessman claims Imran Khan aides sold $2 million watch gifted by Saudi Crown Prince
Leader of ummah
What began at home with the sale of bhains and bakris (cattle) from the Prime Minister’s house in the name of austerity in 2018 has now become a full-fledged scandal with both Mr and Mrs Khan retaining-selling all of their State gifts. We know that the former Prime Minister used to complain that his monthly salary was insufficient and he couldn’t run his house in it. But was the situation this dire that he had to take even a tea set worth PKR 3,500 from the Toshakhana?
Imagine a leader’s image crafted around religiosity, camouflaged with rosaries, and claims of making Pakistan a model State of Medina. Who then sells a gift watch with Makkah imagery with no qualms? The irony is that he is also certified as sadiq and ameen (truthful and honest) by former Chief Justice Asif Khosa. Imran is now being chased away with the chants of ‘ghari chor, ghari chor’ by the people. Yet the PTI thinks that its biggest problem is Google showing Imran Khan images on searching ‘Ghari chor’.
For more than a decade, Imran has cited Hazrat Umar as a leader, presented himself for accountability (“Allah gave me everything, I didn’t want anything,” Imran said), narrated fables of wearing torn salwar kameez and projected himself as the next Tayyip Erdogan. The greatest leader of the Muslim ummah, who promised to bring respect to the green passport, had no time to focus on the prices of tamatar, pyaaz because he was too busy acting as the ambassador of OLX. I wonder what the real leaders of the ummah feel about their gifts being swindled by a Pakistani PM.
The author is a freelance journalist from Pakistan. Her Twitter handle is @nailainayat. Views are personal.
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)