Pakistan court directs govt. to make public details of gifts received by former PM Imran Khan
The Hindu
"Mera tohfa, meri marzi [my gift, my choice]," Geo News Pakistan quoted Mr. Khan
In a setback to Imran Khan, a Pakistani court on Wednesday ordered the government to make public details of the gifts received by the former Prime Minister from foreign dignitaries since assuming office in August 2018.
Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Islamabad High Court issued the directive to the Shehbaz Sharif-led government after hearing two petitions – one by a citizen seeking the implementation of the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) order, and the other by the Cabinet Division challenging that order.
After a citizen approached the PIC to get details of the gifts, it directed the Cabinet Division to "provide the requested information about the gifts received by Mr. Khan from foreign heads of states, heads of governments and other foreign dignitaries, description/specification of each gift, information about the gifts retained by the Prime Minister and the rules under which gifts thus received are retained by him.” The Cabinet Division was told to share the required information within 10 working days and also upload it on the official website.
But the Cabinet Division challenged the PIC order in the Islamabad High Court after the then Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Government said that the disclosure of any information may jeopardise ties with some countries.
The Islamabad High Court upheld the PIC order and observed that the gifts belonged to the office of the Prime Minister and were not to be taken home.
Gifts given to government officials by foreign governments belong to the state of Pakistan and not some individuals, Justice Aurangzeb observed on Wednesday.
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