Imran Khan is accused of selling expensive watches and other gifts he received from Toshakhana at a discounted rate at a profit while he was Prime Minister.
Image Credit source: AFP
Pakistan Of election Commission (ECP) on Tuesday former Prime Minister Imran Khan Started the process of removing him from the post of chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The commission has taken this step after he was disqualified from the membership of Parliament in the Toshakhana case. The Dawn newspaper quoted a top ECP official as saying that a notice has been issued to the former prime minister and December 13 has been fixed for hearing the matter.
Imran Khan is accused of selling expensive watches and other gifts he received from Toshakhana at a discounted rate at a profit while he was Prime Minister. The Election Commission of Pakistan has disqualified Imran Khan under Article 63(i)(p) of the Constitution alleging misrepresentation and false declaration in this regard.
What is the law regarding gifts received by government officials?
According to Election Commission documents, goods worth Rs 2.15 crore were purchased from Toshakhana, established in 1974, while their actual value was Rs 10.8 crore. Significantly, under Pakistani law, gifts received by government officials and ministers from abroad have to be deposited in the Toshakhana or treasury for evaluation before being kept with them. Government officials are required to report any gifts received, but there is a threshold below which they are not required to disclose the full value. Larger gifts are sent to Toshakhana, although the recipient may be able to buy them back at a discount of up to 50 percent.
PTI officials said that no law prevents a convict from becoming an office-bearer of a political party. In 2018, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, while hearing petitions against the Election Act, ruled that a person disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution cannot lead a political party.
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