Islamabad [Pakistan], April 18 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday expressed his viewpoints over the Toshakana (state depository) controversy and said they were his gifts and it was his choice whether to keep them or not, local media reported.
“Mera tohfa, meri marzi [my gift, my choice],” the PTI chairman told reporters during an informal conversation, Geo TV reported.
These developments came after Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif accused Imran Khan of selling gifts, worth Pakistani Rupees (Rs) 140 million, received during foreign visits.
According to reports, the former PM received 58 gifts worth more than Rs 140 million from different world leaders during his three-and-a-half-year reign and retained all of them either by paying a negligible amount or even without any payment.
“I deposited a gift sent by a president at my residence. Whatever I took from Toshakana is on record. I purchased the gifts after paying 50 per cent of the cost,” Khan clarified.
He said that the PTI government has changed the policy of retaining gifts and increased the price from 15 per cent to 50 per cent.
“Had I wanted to make money, I would have declared my house as a camp office but I did not,” Khan added, reported Geo TV.
Earlier, on Friday, Pakistan PM accused Imran Khan of selling Toshakana gifts and said, “I can confirm you that Imran Khan took gifts worth Rs 140 million from Toshakhana and sold them in Dubai,” ARY News quoted Sharif as saying, who further added that the valuable state gifts included diamond jewellery, bracelets and watches.
Sharif’s remarks came in response to a question regarding a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking details of the Toshakhana. The then PM Imran Khan had refused to reveal the details of the depository of the state gifts, citing provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, reported Geo News.
Notably, according to Pakistan’s law, gifts received by the head of the state from another state or country have to be deposited in the Toshakhana. In the event the head of the state wishes to keep the gift, the payment equal to its value, which is decided through an auction, has to be paid to the state exchequer. (ANI)
This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.