IHC seeks details of Toshakhana gifts taken by Presidents, PMs since 1947
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed the Cabinet division to submit details of Toshakhana gifts received by prime ministers and presidents from foreign countries since the creation of Pakistan.
The IHC issued a notice to the Cabinet Division after it refused to provide the details and asked it to submit a report within a month.
IHC’s Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the petition filed by Abuzar Salman Niazi.
During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Syed Ahsan Raza said that there won’t be any records before 1990 adding that, such information should be available on the website.
The court said that it might be possible that Toshakhana’s records are available and ordered to provide the records if available.
The lawyer said that the petitioner has asked for the details of the gifts received by the Presidents and Prime Ministers since 1947.
The petitioner’s lawyer said that the cabinet division refused to provide the information saying it was classified.
“Why are you limiting yourself to the prime ministers and presidents and not including the rest of the public servants? This shows your intentions,” Justice Hassan remarked.
The court then adjourned the hearing and sought the report from the Cabinet Division in a month.
Earlier on December 19, The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the federal government to submit details of Toshakhana gifts received by political leaders and bureaucrats from foreign countries since 1947.
The federal government’s counsel opposed the petition and said that the details are confidential and cannot be made public. At this court remarked that submit the details to the court to decide whether the details are confidential or not.
The court ordered the federal government to provide all the details by January 16, 2023, and adjourned the hearing.
