An alleged audio of Bushra Bibi and Zulfi Bukhari discussing trade of ‘some watches’ leaked
An alleged audio of PTI chairman Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari, discussing trade of ‘some watches’ surfaced on social media.
Transcript:
Bushra Bibi: Hello
Zulfi Bukhari: Salam Alaikum, ji
Bushra Bibi: Ji, Walaikum Salam, How are you?
Zulfi Bukhari: I’m fine Murshid, how are you?
Bushra Bibi: Thanks to Allah, Alhamdulillah. There are some watches of Khan Sahib. He asked me to send these to you and you will sell them because they are of no use to him.
Zulfi Bukhari: Yes
Bushra Bibi: So, he wants you to deal with it Zulfi: Yes, Murshid. I will do it
It is pertinent to mention here that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified PTI supremo Imran Khan for five years in Toshakhana case filed against him by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) citing, corrupt practices by party chairman.
He was accused of selling expensive gifts received by Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman.
Earlier, Umar Farooq Zahoor, a Dubai-based businessman, claimed that Imran Khan’s close aides, Farah Gogi and Shahzad Akbar allegedly sold some of the state gifts to him, including an expensive Graff wristwatch worth at least Rs2 billion gifted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Umar Farooq Zahoor, while giving an interview to private news channel said, that ‘in March 2019, former SAPM on accountability Shahzad Akbar contacted him and said that he has a set of worthy watches. He added that Shahzad Akbar told him to meet Farah Khan (close friend of Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi) during a Dubai visit and look at the unwanted rare gifts she wanted to sell.
The set included:
- Diamond Master Graff Tourbillion Minute Repeater with Makkah Map
- Dial GM2751 Diamond Cufflinks With 2.12ct H IF and 2.11 ct I IF
- Round Diamonds GR46899 Round Diamond Gent’s Ring 7.20ets I VVSI
- Rose Gold Pen Set with Pave Diamonds and Enamel Makkah Map
Toshakhana case against Imran:
National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf sent a reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the disqualification of PTI chief Imran Khan for selling presents from Toshakhana during his government.
The case filed with the ECP sought his disqualification under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution which suggests disqualification if someone is not truthful.
In the reference, it was said that Imran Khan did not disclosed the details of gifts taken from Toshakhana and the money received from the sale of these gifts in his assets.
Earlier in April, the former prime minister had responded to the controversy over the gifts found in the Toshakhana during an informal media interaction, saying that these were his gifts and it was his choice whether to keep them or not.
Imran Khan disqualified:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified PTI supremo Imran Khan for five years in Toshakhana case filed against him by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) citing, corrupt practices by party chairman.
The unanimous decision reads, “Imran Khan has been declared ineligible to be elected as a member of Majlis Shura (Parliament) or Provincial Assembly under any law for the duration of the current assembly under Article 63 (13) for submitting a false affidavit in Toshakhana reference.”
The case centres on a government department known as “Toshakhana”, which during the Mughal era referred to the “treasure houses” kept by the sub-continent’s princely rulers to store and display gifts lavished on them.
Established in 1974, the Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign dignitaries.
Government officials must declare all gifts, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value.
More expensive items must go to Toshakhana, but in some cases the recipient can buy them back at around 50 percent of their value — a discount Khan raised from 20 percent while in office.
Pakistan newspapers have for months carried lurid stories alleging Khan and his wife received lavish gifts worth millions during trips abroad.
They included luxury watches, jewellery, designer handbags and perfumes.
Khan is accused of failing to declare some gifts or the profit made from selling them.
The complaint to the election commission was first brought when Khan was still in office by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a coalition whose members now make up the government.
At the time Khan said he had not made public some gifts on national security grounds, but in a written submission admitted buying items worth nearly 22 million rupees ($100,000), and later selling them for more than twice that amount.
He says the valuation was done through proper channels.
