According to Geo News, PTI filed a reference with the National Assembly in a tit-for-tat action against Asif Ali Zardari, the former president and co-chairman of the PPP, asking for his disqualification for purchasing automobiles from Toshakhana.
In a citation, PTI said that there was proof showing that Zardari had broken the law by purchasing three cars from Toshakhana while Yousuf Raza Gillani was prime minister.
The statement continued, “However, Asif Zardari was not eligible to take cars from Toshakhana being president.”
The News reported that the reference indicated that Zardari held the office of President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013 and that during that time, ex-prime minister Gilani illegally eased the Toshakhana laws, leading to Zardari’s retention of gifts of bullet-proof vehicles.
According to the reference, Toshakhana was transferred to the Cabinet Division in 1970, and the division first framed the Toshakhana procedures under the Government Conduct Rules 1964, which have since been amended several times.
It was stated that following the first amendment to the Toshakhana procedures on March 30, 1978, the then-chief executive initiated a summary in which he proposed limiting the retention of vehicles by gift recipients.
According to the reference, the summary was approved by the then-CEO on February 29, 2000, and the revised procedures were distributed by an ombudsman on March 10, 2000.
According to Rule 9 of the Toshakhana Procedures, “all antique items and cars shall not be allowed to be purchased by the recipients… Cars will be assigned to the Cabinet Division’s Central Pool of Cars.”
In connection with the Toshakhana reference, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also requested information from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on PTI chairman Imran Khan’s bank accounts.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has already reserved its decision in the Toshakhana case filed against former Prime Minister Imran Khan (ECP).
