The federal government released the Toshakhana records and uploaded the 466-page data of 21 years on the Cabinet Division’s website.
Those who acquired the Gifts from Toshakhana include former presidents, prime ministers, ministers and government officers.
Also Read: Imran Khan once again remains Absent from Toshakhana Case Hearing
The names that were publicized in Toshakhan records included the late President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Ex-PM Minister Shaukat Aziz, EX-PM Yousaf Raza Gillani, Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, EX-PM Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, and Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the government’s plan to make the entire record public. He had also barred the officials from retaining gifts worth more than $300.
Earlier Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Thursday claimed the government had given Green Signal for making records of Toshakhana gifts public after the high court’s orders.
The move comes days after the government pleaded with the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the records of the Toshakhana gifts since 2002 were being “declassified” and would be uploaded to the internet after final deliberation.
The LHC on 19th January directed the government to submit an affidavit declaring the details of the Toshakhana gifts as “classified”. In a statement, the defence minister said the record of Toshakhana will be uploaded to the Cabinet Division’s website.
Earlier the Toshakhana details were uploaded on the website of the Cabinet division after Government approval.
Toshakhana Gifts Record
Nawaz Sharif
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif takes Mercedes Benz in 2008. The market price of the luxury car was Rs4,25,5000 which was purchased at the price of only Rs636,000 from Toshakhana
Moreover, he purchased a glass set at the price of Rs43,000 and Rs6,000 paid for a carpet. He paid Rs240,000 for a cufflink and a watch worth Rs1,200,000. He acquired a vase worth Rs8,000 without paying any amount.
Asif Ali Zardari
Former president Asif Ali Zardari paid Rs79,005 for the Jovani watch and horse model worth Rs540,000. He also received gifts of a BMW worth Rs5,078,000 and a Toyota Lexus worth Rs5,000,000. The former president paid Rs16,100,000 for purchasing both vehicles.
He acquired a painting worth Rs10,000 without paying any amount. He purchased a BMW luxury car at the price of 4,100,000 in 2009 whose actual market value was Rs27,300,000.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari received a vase worth Rs6,500 without paying any amount.
Shehbaz Sharif
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif did not pay for items of Toshakhana, including a cow model (R8,000), decanter (Rs25,000), wall hanging (Rs17,000), bowl, dagger (Rs50,000), booklet (Rs10,000), stadium model (Rs15,000), onyx plate (Rs2,200), horse metal sculpture (Rs28,000), chocolate and honey (Rs12,000), jar (Rs10,000), Uzbek products including books (Rs33,000) and painting (Rs28,000).
Premier Shehbaz Sharif paid Rs185,000 for a golden vase whose actual price was Rs400,000.
The then chief minister (CM) Shehbaz Sharif purchase a decoration piece at Rs5,000 whose actual price was Rs35,000 in 2013.
Sharif kept a ceramic bowl (Rs20,000) and a painting with a frame (Rs12,000) without paying a single penny to the exchequer. Other items included a vase (Rs22,000), an Orange Train model (Rs10,000), a souvenir (Rs8,000), honey (Rs1,000), herbal tea (Rs3,000), jam (Rs6,000), three footballs (Rs15,000), decanter (Rs22,000), Arabian coffee container (Rs26,000), Arabian coffee (Rs26,000), bowl set (Rs10,000), carpet (Rs30,000).
Imran Khan
Imran Khan had a long list of gifts. He retained a Rolex watch valued at Rs 8.5 crore, a pair of cufflinks, a pen, and one ring by paying only Rs two crore. Whereas originally the cufflinks were valued at Rs 56,70,000, the pen was Rs 15,00,000, and the ring was priced at 87,50,000, according to the record.
He also retained a wooden oud box and two perfumes free of cost. The value of these items was Rs 500,000. He also kept for himself a Rolex watch priced Rs 1.5 million by paying only Rs 294,000.
While he paid only Rs 338,600 for some other gifts including another Rolex watch valued at Rs 900,000, ladies watch valued at Rs 400,000, I Phone valued at Rs 210,000, two gents suits priced at Rs 30,000, four perfumes valued at Rs 35,000, Rs 30,000, Rs 26,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively, a purse valued Rs 6,000, a ladies purse valued at 18,000 and one ball pen priced at Rs 28,000.
Sharif family members
Maryam Nawaz, Kulsoom Nawaz, and Nawaz Sharif did not pay for a pineapple box.
Shaukat Aziz
Former PM Shaukat Aziz paid Rs24,000 for Toshakhana gifts worth Rs170,000.
Others
Geo News director Rana Jawad paid Rs20,000 for a wristwatch worth Rs110,000.
Ishaq Dar paid Rs1,000 for a bedsheet worth Rs15,000.
Marriyum Aurangzeb’s mother paid Rs30,000 for two watches worth 115,000 in 2009.
Toshakhana
Toshakhana is a word of Persian origin that literally translates into “treasure house”.
In Pakistan, Toshakhana is a term used to refer to the state treasury, where gifts and presents received by the President, Prime Minister, or other high-level government officials are kept. The Toshakhana is managed by the Cabinet Division of the Government of Pakistan, and the gifts received by government officials are stored there for safekeeping.
The Toshakhana in Pakistan was established during the British colonial era and has been in operation ever since. The gifts received by government officials can range from simple tokens of appreciation to expensive and valuable items such as jewelry, cars, watches, and even animals.
According to Pakistan law, whenever a head of state receives a gift from another state or country, they have to commit it to the Toshakhana. If they wish to keep the gift, they have to pay a certain percentage of the value of the gift decided by relevant authorities.
The Toshakhana issue became a major issue in Pakistan’s politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the PTI chief for making “false statements and incorrect declaration” last month.
The judgment added that the former premier was found to be indulged in corrupt practices under sections 167 and 173 of the constitution. “A criminal proceeding will be initiated against him over filing a false statement.”
“As per the statement of Imran Khan he had purchased the gifts from Toshakhana paying 21.564 million rupees while the Cabinet Division said that the gifts had a value of 107.943 million.”
The gifts include
- Rolex wristwatch no. M228206-0036, 43.6470
- Rolex wristwatch no. M126331-0014, 2G367435
- Rolex wristwatch no. M1I6700LS001,(999927K8) Oyster S
- One iPhone presented by Qatar’s army chief dated 14/11/2018
- Rolex wristwatch no. Yacht-Master, Oyster, Serial no.068A7072. Model 116680
- Rolex wristwatch (No.E67574V3), pair of cufflinks, one ring, and unstitched cloth of pants and coat from the crown prince of Saudi Arabia dated 18/09/2020.
- Graff gift set containing one Graff wristwatch Master Graff Special Edition Mecca Timepiece, One 18K gold and diamond Graff Pen, ring, and pair of cufflinks with a micro painting of Mecca.
