Pakistan

Marriyum Aurangzeb berates Imran Khan over Toshakhana controversy

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

“Imran Khan ran a business while sitting on PM’s chair,” says Aurangzeb.
“Khan will have to show the money trail and the receipts as the Toshakhana gifts cannot be sold,” she adds.
“For the first time in Pakistan, a thief and an incompetent PM has been removed constitutionally through a no-confidence motion,” she says.

ISLAMABAD: Newly elected Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that former prime minister Imran Khan did not earn as much as he earned from the Toshakhana in his entire life. She said that Imran Khan ran a business from the prime minister’s chair.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Aurangzeb criticised Imran Khan for saying “mera tohfa, meri marzi (my gift, my choice)“ adding that it was Pakistan’s gift and not his personal property.

She alleged that Imran Khan’s income grew double-fold after he sold items from the Toshakhana.

The information minister said that the PTI chairman will have to show the money trail and the receipts as the Toshakhana gifts cannot be sold.

“The PTI-led government introduced a law to procure gifts from the Toshakhana at 50% of its original cost, but despite the law being introduced during their tenure, Imran Khan purchased the gift at 20% of the cost,” she said.

Praising the PML-N government, Aurangzeb went on to say that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif started working within five days after assuming office as the premier because the country’s economy, foreign policy, and development projects were in the worst condition.

The information minister went on to say that a campaign is being launched against state institutions through “robotics tweets” and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been instructed to take action against them.

“Immediate action will be taken against those who are behind these tweets and robotics machines will be identified soon,” added the minister.

Talking about the former first lady of Pakistan Bushra Bibi, Aurangzeb said that she made an entry in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) tax return back in 2018 using her old name.

“For the first time in Pakistan, a thief and an incompetent prime minister has been removed constitutionally through a no-confidence motion,” she said, adding that “excessive expenditure on sugar increased its prices; flour had to be imported after it was smuggled and PTI’s minister looted medicines.”

Talking about the PTI chairman’s former adviser on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar, the PML-N leader said that he has fled the country and the government knows how to bring him back to Pakistan.

She further said that if there was no evidence against Bushra Bibi’s close friend Farah Khan, she wouldn’t have escaped.

Toshakhana controversy

On Thursday, April 14, PM Shehbaz Sharif revealed that ex-premier Imran Khan took gifts from the Toshakhana and sold them in Dubai.

“Imran Khan sold these gifts for Rs140 million in Dubai,” PM Shehbaz was reported as telling journalists during an iftar he hosted a day earlier in the federal capital.

The premier was said to have shared that the expensive gifts that former prime minister Imran Khan traded for money included diamond jewellery sets, bracelets and wristwatches.

PM Shehbaz said that he also received a watch once, but deposited it to the Toshakhana, adding that he “does not need to hide anything”.

What does the law say?

According to the law, whenever a head of state receives a gift from another state or country, they have to give it to the Toshakhana. If they wish to keep the gift, they have to pay an amount equal to its value which is decided through an auction.

These gifts either remain deposited in the Toshakhana or can be auctioned and the money acquired through it is to be deposited into the national treasury.

Latest News

Rainfall throughout the night stops flights in Lahore.

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

Allama Iqbal International Airport experienced many hours of flight disruption due to the intense rainfall and windstorms that occurred overnight in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab.

Aviation sources claim that because of the monsoon weather, the flight operation was unable to operate between 3 and 4 am.

It is possible that the planes will arrive at the airport at 4 am.

Amidst delays in foreign airline flights, three aircraft made landings in Multan and Peshawar.

Riyadh flights arrived in Peshawar Airport, while flights scheduled to land in Lahore in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain ended up landing in Multan Airport.

Seven hours later than scheduled, the Qatar Airways flight from Doha arrived in Lahore.

Because of the bad weather, there are delays in the arrival and departure of numerous international planes.

Latest News

Changes to Pakistan’s Test team could be significant for the Bangladesh series.

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

Major changes to Pakistan’s team are anticipated ahead of the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh, sources in Lahore have revealed.

As the team gets ready for the series, meetings with the players are planned for next week.

It is predicted that the Test squad would undergo several changes. The team’s lineup is expected to be strengthened by the likely inclusion of Muhammad Huraira. Key players like Faheem Ashraf, Wasim Jr., Saim Ayub, and Nauman Ali, whose contributions are vital to the team’s success, struggle to get a spot on the squad.

Furthermore, according to sources, Imamul Haq or Sahibzada Farhan are anticipated to be added to the team, subject to additional assessment. Furthermore, following a fitness assessment, Amir Jamal and Hasan Ali’s futures will be determined.

The ultimate selection for the Test team will take place following Red Ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s return to Pakistan. The ultimate squad that will play Bangladesh in the forthcoming Test series will be greatly influenced by his assessments and thoughts.

Pakistan is scheduled to visit New Zealand in March and April of 2025, according to the country’s official cricket schedule, which was released earlier this month.

Throughout their visit, the Pakistan cricket team will play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in an exciting series.

The T20I series, which starts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 16, will serve as the tour’s opening event.

Latest News

PM Meets With KP Lawmakers: Promises Progression and Relief Efforts in Province

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhawa lawmakers are given assurances by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the province’s development, namely in the amalgamated districts, with a particular emphasis on the provision of standard health and educational facilities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa National and Provincial Assembly members paid a visit to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at PM House.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the PML-N Government has always given priority to the development of the combined districts.

The prime minister promised that the combined Districts would have standard health and educational facilities, and that Danish Schools would be established nearby to offer local pupils an education of the highest caliber possible.

The PM also underlined the importance of promoting solar energy, combating electricity theft, and helping the middle class and impoverished.

He said that in order to boost the agriculture sector’s growth, expand the amount of land under cultivation, and reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, the government was converting agricultural tubewells to solar energy nationwide.

According to PM Shehbaz Sharif, the government recently provided significant reduction from electricity rates for those with low and moderate incomes.

At the event, he also announced the creation of a committee headed by the deputy prime minister, whose goal will be to identify long-term solutions to the issues facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s elected officials.

He argued that in order to preserve the nation from going into default, the current government had to make difficult political choices in order to revitalize the economy.

The parliamentarians gave Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif high marks for his visionary leadership in transforming Pakistan’s economy.