The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has issued a report detailing its assessment of the recently-concluded general election, expressing deep concerns over a decline in fairness scores compared to previous election cycles.
ISLAMABAD: The government on Sunday made public the details of foreign gifts retained by public office holders — presidents, prime ministers, federal cabinet members, politicians, bureaucrats, retired generals, judges and journalists from 2002 to 2022.
The details of Toshakhana were updated on the website of the Cabinet Division.
Prominent personalities who benefited from the Toshakhana gifts included President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former prime minister Imran Khan, ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, late military dictator Pervez Musharraf, former premier Shaukat Aziz, ex-PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, ex-PM Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Khursheed Kasuri, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Jehangir Tarin, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Dr Attaur Rehman among others.
As per the documents, most of the gifts were retained by the office holders free of cost except for a few ones.
Mr Zardari and Nawaz Sharif received one bulletproof vehicle each during their visits and retained these vehicles after paying some money to the Toshakhana.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his wife received five precious wristwatches, ornaments and other items.
Pervez Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz retained hundreds of foreign gifts without paying a penny.
In return for the gifts received from foreign dignitaries, these public office holders, especially the rulers, gave away gifts worth millions of rupees to the foreign delegates.
Asif Ali Zardari
The details revealed that Mr Zardari retained one BMW 760 Li white (security version) on Jan 26, 2009. The value of the car was fixed at Rs27.3 million while the former president retained it after paying a little more than Rs4m.
In March 2011, he retained a wristwatch worth Rs1m after paying Rs158,250 for the watch and some other items.
In June 2011, he retained a wristwatch worth Rs1.25m after paying a sum of Rs189,219 for the watch and some other items.
In Oct 2011, the PPP leader retained a Cartier wristwatch worth Rs1m after making a payment of Rs321,000 for the watch and a gun.
Nawaz Sharif
The PML-N supreme leader was gifted a Mercedes Benz car on April 20, 2008 which was worth Rs4.25m.
The former PM retained it after paying Rs0.636m, as per the document. The document did not mention in what capacity Mr Sharif received the vehicle.
Nawaz Sharif and his wife also hold many gifted watches of Rolex, bovet, PIAGET, Christopher claret, dela core, companies, gold and diamond cufflikns worth of millions of rupees, golden swords, gold and diamond pens, many gold and diamond Necklesses, jewelary boxes, tea sets, carpets, ear rings, for Begum Nawaz Sharif, Marryum Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz.
News Reporters from allied News Channels like Geo News and Ptv were also given costly gifts of Rolex watches etc which were retained with out paying.
Sheikh Rashid retained dozens of gifts, including two gold coins, on Feb 3, 2003, after paying a mere Rs3,420.
Khurshid M Qasuri received several gifts in 2005 and retained these items free of cost.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf retained a Graff wristwatch assessed at Rs890,000 in November 2012 after paying a sum of Rs218,000 for it and other items.
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