The federal authorities on Tuesday introduced Toshakhana (Administration and Regulation) Invoice, 2023 within the Senate, looking for a penalty of 5 instances the market worth of a present for violation of the involved guidelines.
The invoice was moved by the ruling PML-N’s Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi. The invoice suggests a penalty of 5 instances the worth of a Toshakhana present in case of failure to deposit the merchandise within the repository throughout the time interval given within the guidelines.
If the Senate passes the invoice, it might be utilized to the president, prime minister and members of the armed forces. It might even be relevant to governors, Senate chairperson and deputy chairperson, Nationwide Meeting speaker and deputy speaker, federal and provincial ministers, ministers of state, chief ministers, political secretaries, PM’s aides, advisers, lawyer common and regulation officers. Spouses and youngsters of public workplace holders wouldn’t be anticipated from it.
It’s pertinent to say right here that the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP), in a consensus verdict in Toshakana reference, had disqualified former prime minister Imran Khan and dominated that the PTI chairman isn’t any extra a member of the Nationwide Meeting in October final yr.
The ECP acknowledged that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and was discovered concerned in corrupt practices underneath Article 63(1)(p).
It’s pertinent to say right here that in addition to the PTI chief, leaders from the opposite events additionally boarded Toshakhana ‘gravy practice’.
In March 2023, the federal authorities, in compliance with the orders of the Lahore Excessive Courtroom (LHC), made public the file of state officers who obtained Toshakhana presents since 2002.
As per the small print, Khan retained one watch (Graff No.AU750) 18-carat gold and diamond assessed worth of Rs85 million, a pair of cufflinks (over Rs5.6m), one pen (Rs1.5m) and a hoop (Rs8.7m) by depositing simply Rs20.17m in Toshakhana.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari additionally retained varied gadgets together with one BMW 760 Li (Safety model, mannequin No.2008) — assessed worth Rs57,828,705 — and one Toyota Lexus LX 470 (Safety model) — valued at Rs.50,000,000 by depositing a complete of round Rs16.1m.
He additionally obtained one other BMW 760 Li white (Safety model) (Mannequin No.2004) — valued at Rs27,339,370 — by depositing Rs4.09m.
In 2013, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif retained one Rolex Watch Oyster Perpetual N Sequence 0835D018 (over Rs1.18m), one pair of cufflinks with a pen (Rs0.025m) and 4 commemorative cash of the Central Financial institution of Kuwait (Rs0.015m) by depositing Rs0.243m in Toshakhana.
In 2016, Nawaz Sharif’s spouse, Kulsoom Nawaz, retained one bracelet valued at Rs12.7m, one necklace and earrings (Rs41.6m) by depositing Rs10.8m.
Furthermore, former premiers Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Yousaf Raza Gillani; former finance minister Sartaj Aziz; ex-president Pervez Musharraf; incumbent Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and others’ names are included within the record.