Imran Khan made Rs. 142m from State Gifts during PM Term

Imran Khan has been accused of selling gifts from the Toshakhana during his time as Prime Minister, making Rs. 142 million (£597,000)

Newly-elected Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb claimed that the former PM’s income grew two-fold, adding that he will have to show the receipts and money trail of the gifts.

At a press conference, Aurangzeb said Khan earned more from selling the gifts than he did in his entire life.

She said: “He ran a business while sitting on the Prime Minister’s chair.”

Aurangzeb said Khan declared earnings of Rs. 141 million (£593,000). However, he earned a further Rs. 142 million by selling the gifts.

Criticising Khan for saying “my gift, my choice”, Aurangzeb said they were Pakistan’s gifts and not his personal property.

She said: “The PTI-led government introduced a law to procure gifts from the Toshakhana at 50% of its original cost, but despite the law being introduced during their tenure, Imran Khan purchased the gift at 20% of the cost.”

Praising the PML-N government, Aurangzeb went on to say that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif started working within five days after assuming office as the premier because the country’s economy, foreign policy and development projects were in the worst condition.

A campaign is being launched against state institutions through “robotic tweets” and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been instructed to take action against them.

The minister added: “Immediate action will be taken against those who are behind these tweets and robotics machines will be identified soon.”

Aurangzeb spoke about former First Lady Bushra Bibi, claiming that she made an entry in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) tax return back in 2018 using her maiden name.

She said: “For the first time in Pakistan, a thief and an incompetent Prime Minister has been removed constitutionally through a no-confidence motion.”

She added that “excessive expenditure on sugar increased its prices; flour had to be imported after it was smuggled and PTI’s minister looted medicines”.

Talking about the PTI chairman’s former adviser on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar, the PML-N leader said that he has fled the country and the government knows how to bring him back to Pakistan.

Aurangzeb stated that if there was no evidence against Bushra Bibi’s friend Farah Khan, she would not have fled.

On April 14, 2022, PM Sharif alleged that Imran Khan took gifts from the Toshakhana and sold them in Dubai.

He said:

“Imran Khan sold these gifts for Rs. 140 million in Dubai.”

The PM said the gifts included diamond jewellery sets, bracelets and watches.

PM Shehbaz said that he also received a watch once, but deposited it to the Toshakhana, adding that he “does not need to hide anything”.

According to law, whenever a head of state receives a gift from another state, they must give it to the Toshakhana.

If they wish to keep the gift, they have to pay an amount equal to its value which is decided through an auction.

These gifts either remain deposited in the Toshakhana or can be auctioned and the money acquired through it is to be deposited into the national treasury.