ISLAMABAD: In the latest development in the Tosha Khana case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has changed the status of its inquiry into the alleged sale of government gifts to an investigation. JEE News reported on Saturday.
The former prime minister faces allegations of corruption related to the state gift depository – allegations he denies.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had on October 21 last year disqualified the former prime minister for making “false statements and false declarations” under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution in the Tosha Khana reference.
He was barred from holding public office after being found guilty of illegally selling gifts to foreign dignitaries and heads of state.
A trial court then, in May this year, rejected the plea of Khan – the first prime minister to be removed from office by a no-confidence vote, challenging the tenability of the reference.
Not only this, the court also indicted the PTI chief, who denied all the allegations leveled against him.
The anti-graft watchdog has summoned the PTI chief to submit the inquiry report in person on Monday (July 17).
According to the call-up notice issued on Friday, the Rawalpindi office of the Accountability Bureau said that in the light of the evidence collected and statements of witnesses, the inquiry proceedings against Khan have been converted into an investigation by the authority.
The call-up notice directed the former prime minister to join the investigation and appear before the Joint Investigation Team of NAB Rawalpindi at 10 am on the said date to submit the inquiry report in person under Section 18 of NAPO, 1999.
Meanwhile, a trial court is also processing the matter after maintaining the Tosha Khana case against Khan.
Amendment of NAB Act
It should be noted that under the new amendment in NAB rules, the bureau has got the authority to detain an accused for 30 days.
On July 4, Acting President Sadiq Sanjrani signed the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 late at night after the approval of the federal cabinet.
According to the ordinance, NAB chairman can issue arrest warrant for the accused for non-cooperation during the investigation.
What is Tosha Khana case?
Under the rules governing the Tosha Khana – a Persian word meaning “treasure chest” – government officials can keep gifts if they are of low value, while paying dramatically lower fees to the government for extravagant items.
Tosha Khana has been under a microscope ever since allegations surfaced that Imran Khan bought gifts as prime minister at wholesale prices and sold them in the open market for huge profits.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of abusing his prime ministership from 2018 to 2022 by buying and selling state-owned gifts received during overseas trips worth 140 million rupees ($635,000).
Among the gifts were watches given by a royal family, according to government officials, who had previously alleged that Khan’s aides had sold them in Dubai.
The gifts included seven wristwatches, six made by watchmaker Rolex, and the most expensive was a “Mastergraph Limited Edition” worth 85 million Pakistani rupees ($385,000).
The Election Commission’s order said that Imran Khan is disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
