Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in its verdict in Toshakhana reference, disqualified former prime minister Imran Khan for five years and ruled that the Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) chairman is no more a member of the National Assembly.
The ECP stated that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices.
Criminal proceedings will be initiated against the PTI chairman for misdeclaration, the verdict said, reports Geo News.
About Toshakana reference
The reference was filed in August against Imran by the coalition government, for “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts and proceeds from their alleged sale.
Lawmakers from the Pakistan Democratic Movement — the ruling alliance — had submitted the reference to National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who had subsequently forwarded it to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja for further action, reports Dawn.
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.
According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.
In the reference, it was alleged that Khan did not disclose the gifts he took and concealed the information in his statements.
According to reports, Khan, last month, sold three expensive watches from the government treasure house collectively worth more than 154 million Pakistani rupees (PKR) to a local watch dealer.
Imran Khan reportedly earned millions of rupees from these jewel-class watches gifted to him by foreign dignitaries.
In April this year, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had accused his predecessor Imran Khan of selling Toshakhana gifts worth PKR 140 million in Dubai.
“Imran Khan sold these gifts for PKR 140 million in Dubai,” Shehbaz had said.
He said that the expensive gifts included diamond jewellery sets, bracelets and wristwatches.
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