New Delhi: Supporters of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan tried to fight off an armed contingent of police Tuesday afternoon as it moved towards his Zaman Park residence in Lahore to arrest him in the Toshakhana case.
The case pertains to the non-disclosure and illegal sale of gifts Khan received when in office, which were to be stored in the Toshakhana and registered with the government.
Shortly after 2 pm, a large contingent of armed policemen was seen advancing towards his house behind an armoured vehicle that dispersed PTI supporters with a water cannon and tear gas. Imran loyalists pelted stones at the police as they inched towards his home.
Now they are directing tear gas inside Khan's house. Total fascism by a bloodthirsty fascist govt and State. pic.twitter.com/SVMxd8nQfv
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 14, 2023
On Monday, a district and sessions court in Islamabad had restored the non-bailable arrest warrant against Khan, who is fighting a number of legal cases in different cities.
Government spokesperson Amir Mir told Reuters that a couple of hundred Khan supporters gathered outside the house after the police team arrived from Islamabad to arrest him on a court order.
He said PTI workers started the violence, which injured several police officials, adding, “If Imran Khan ensures his presence in the court, it will be good, otherwise the law will take its course.”
With the police at his door, Khan tweeted a video message before his arrest, saying the police think that if he is in jail, the country will “fall asleep”. “The police have come to arrest me… They think that if I am in jail, the country will go to sleep. You have to prove them wrong. That this country is alive… You have to come out of your homes. Dekhiye, Imran Khan ko Allah ne sab kuch de chukka hai. I am fighting for you. I have fought all my life and will continue to do so… If I am killed in jail, then you have to prove that without me this country will go on. Do not yield to the fact that only one man is taking all the decisions in this country. Pakistan zindabad.”
My message to the nation to stand resolute and fight for Haqeeqi Azadi & rule of law. pic.twitter.com/bgVuOjsmHG
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 14, 2023
What is Toshakhana?
The Toshakhana department, established in 1974, stores gifts and other expensive items received by public officials. According to rules, it is compulsory for the gifts to be reported to the government’s Cabinet Division.
Only the president and the prime minister are exempt and can keep gifts that cost less than Pakistani Rupee (PKR) 30,000. The two premiers can also retain the expensive gifts from Toshakhana by paying a certain percentage of their value, decided by the government.
What is the controversy?
The Toshakhana controversy came to light in August 2022, when Pakistan’s coalition government — led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — filed a case against Khan, accusing him of not disclosing information on gifts presented to the Toshakhana and the proceeds from the “illegal” sale of some these gifts.
It is alleged that Khan failed to declare the money earned from the sale of the gifts in his statement of assets and liabilities, which all legislators are required to annually submit to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
When Khan came to power in 2018, he resisted disclosing details of the many presents under the Right to Information (RTI) law, saying that this would severely impact relations with other countries.
The journalist, who sought the details, lodged a complaint with the Federal Information Commission (FIC) after Khan’s government refused to disclose his Toshakhana details.
The commission instructed the Cabinet Division to furnish it as per the RTI. However, the Imran Khan-led government refused to comply, following which the journalist approached the Islamabad High Court to enforce the FIC’s decision.
In April 2022, the high court ordered the government to furnish the information, but soon the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took over power from the Imran Khan administration.
Amid this change of guard, Khan’s Toshakhana details were leaked to the media. On 4 August, members of the National Assembly wanted Khan ousted because of this.
Khan, in a letter to the ECP, admitted to selling four presents from the Toshakhana but also said he bought them from the government by paying a certain percentage of their value.
Khan said he sold the gifts at a premium and used the money to construct an approach road to his Banigala residence.
On 21 October 2022, Khan was disqualified from the National Assembly for five years by the ECP after being found guilty of concealing facts in the case.
It is alleged that Imran Khan retained some of the most expensive gifts at a rate of 20% of the original value, while his own government had increased it to 50%.
According to the ECP, Khan made a profit of PKR 104.78 million on the gifts he retained and sold.