Govt refuses to reveal details of foreign gifts given to PM Imran

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

Disclosure can harm country’s relations with other states, IHC told

The federal government has refused to make public details of gifts given to Prime Minister Imran Khan by foreign heads of states, saying the disclosure can damage country’s national interest and its relations with other states.
The development comes after Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) on an application of a citizen sought details from the PTI-led federal government, Express News reported on Monday.
However, the federal government challenged the matter in Islamabad High Court (IHC), maintaining that the details of the gifts received by the prime minister of the country have been designated as “classified”.
Assistant Attorney General Atiqur Rehman Siddiqui appeared in the IHC on behalf of the federal government and told the court that revelations about the gift exchanges between the head of states could trigger unnecessary media hype and can damage Pakistan’s relations with other countries.

The IHC has adjourned the hearing while issuing notices to PIC and petitioner Abrar Khalid seeking their reply on the matter.
Gifts are routinely exchanged between heads of states or officers holding constitutional positions on the eve of a state visit.
According to the gift depository (Toshakhana) rules, these gifts remain the property of the state unless sold at an open auction. Rules allow officials to retain gifts with a market value of less than Rs10,000 without paying anything.
Earlier this month, former president Asif Ali Zardari moved an accountability court for his acquittal in the Toshakhana reference.
In September 2020, an anti-graft court had indicted the former president along with ex-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the reference.
Zardari had been accused by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of illegally retaining expensive vehicles gifted by various foreign states and dignitaries instead of depositing them in the Toshakhana.
According to the anti-corruption body, Zardari retained the vehicles “against a nominal payment of 15% of their total value” through “dishonest and illegal means for personal benefit and interest”.

Govt refuses to reveal details of foreign gifts received by PM | The Express Tribune

Gifts designated as ‘classified’, IHC told

tribune.com.pk

 

[SQ8]

There have been extravagant gift before but unless there were MTCR violating missiles, high-tech spyware, 200 tons of cocaine or an extraordinarily beautiful concubine gifted I fail to see how it would compromise national security?

 

[Bilal.]

It basically embarrasses countries that gifted. Like this country’s leader’s gift was worth more than what that country’s leader gave….

 

[Xestan]

There have been extravagant gift before but unless there were MTCR violating missiles, high-tech spyware, 200 tons of cocaine or an extraordinarily beautiful concubine gifted I fail to see how it would compromise national security?

Out of all the things you mentioned, cocaine is actually believable.

About the topic: It's very hypocritical of the government to do this, Yusuf Raza Gilani was criticised a lot for his foreign gifts, current Prime Minister is not immune to criticism, even though some would like to make it that way.

 

[El Sidd]

What is the constitutional cap on these state gifts?

At what point do these get classified as bribery?

 

[VCheng]

There have been extravagant gift before but unless there were MTCR violating missiles, high-tech spyware, 200 tons of cocaine or an extraordinarily beautiful concubine gifted I fail to see how it would compromise national security?

The same reason disclosures of Papa John's branches were? Possibly.

 

[Jinn Baba]

It’s basically embarrasses countries that gifted. Like this country’s leader’s gift was worth more than what that country’s leader gave….

That would always have been the case.

 

[M. Sarmad]

About the topic: It's very hypocritical of the government to do this, Yusuf Raza Gilani was criticised a lot for his foreign gifts, current Prime Minister is not immune to criticism, even though some would like to make it that way.

Of course no PM is immune to criticism but what exactly do you want to criticize him for?

He receives gifts and normally deposits them in Toshakhana in accordance with law. He didn't keep them for himself although the law allows that the PM can keep them by paying 50% of the price (compared to 15% in previous governments). So, unless IK keeps something for himself, either by stealing (like Yusuf Raza) or by paying a very little amount (like Zardari and Nawaz Sharif), you can't blame/criticize IK ... Those gifts are a property of the government of Pakistan and the decision/policy of the government not to advertise or compare those gifts is understandable.

 

[Mentee]

although the law allows that PM can do that by paying 50% of the price (compared to 15% in previous governments

Yeh beghyrti hai vadday level ki .

 

[VCheng]

Of course no PM is immune to criticism but what exactly do you want to criticize him for?

This is not PMIK's fault. The real culprits are those who selectively release such information, and block such information, according to their own requirements from time to time, not the law, without reproach or accountability.

 

[M. Sarmad]

Yeh beghyrti hai vadday level ki .

No one is allowed to keep gifts that are antique or of intrinsic historical value. All other gifts that are given to but not retained (by paying 50% of the price) by The President, PM and governors are sold/auctioned.

 

[TigerOfMysore]

If anyone thinks there is any scandal here they will be sorely disappointed. For all the fumbles on policy and other issues, it is sad that people have yet to figure out this man's character. He is not a saint nor is he perfect, but what IK is a ghairat mand son of the soil, who isn't given easily to platitudes nor greed. Over the years his youthful ego too has subsided and he is with time becoming more of an experienced statesman. He is eons better than any other lot floating like "tu*ds" in a toilet. I hope this guy gets re-elected, with a bigger majority.

 

[TheSnakeEatingMarkhur]

Out of all the things you mentioned, cocaine is actually believable.

About the topic: It's very hypocritical of the government to do this, Yusuf Raza Gilani was criticised a lot for his foreign gifts, current Prime Minister is not immune to criticism, even though some would like to make it that way.

If he gave any gift to his wife kindly go and criticise him. Gilani gave the necklace to his wife.

 

[M. Sarmad]

Rules allow officials to retain gifts with a market value of less than Rs10,000 without paying anything.

It's 30,000. Rules allow officials to retain gifts with a value of upto 30,000 for free. The idiots with an agenda in Pakistani leftist media don't do their homework properly

 

[doorstar]

It's 30,000. Rules allow officials to retain gifts with a value of upto 30,000 for free. The idiots with an agenda in Pakistani leftist media don't do their homework properly

I have a poem dedicated to these people titled: patwari hoon aql se aari hoon. which I am prohibited from posting here. tried twice but some keen-eyed mod deletes it as an insult.

slanderous karkunaan e league can post any crap but mocking them is against the PDF rules. trolling/post of no value/insulted another member/other rules. when he can't find an excuse to delete a post he uses the all encompassing "other rules"