Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday filed a petition seeking the recusal of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Amir Farooq from the Toshakhana case.
In the petition, the former prime minister – who was removed from power through a no-confidence motion in April last year – is seeking transfer of the two Toshakhana cases to another bench. The District Election Commission has also been made a respondent in the petition.
The IHC is hearing PTI chief’s two appeals against the sessions court verdict in the Toshakhana case.
What is Toshakhana case?
Under the rules governing the “toshkhana” – a Persian word meaning “treasure house” – government officials can keep gifts if they have little value, while paying the government a dramatically reduced fee for exceptional items. Have to do
Toshakhana has been under the scanner ever since allegations surfaced that the PTI chief bought gifts received as prime minister at throwaway prices and sold them in the open market for huge profits.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of misusing his 2018 to 2022 premiership to buy and sell state-owned gifts received during foreign trips and worth 140 million ( $635,000).
According to government officials, the gifts included watches given by a royal family who had earlier alleged that Khan’s associates had sold them in Dubai.
The gifts included seven wristwatches, six made by watch maker Rolex, and the most expensive, a “Master Graph Limited Edition” costing 85 million Pakistani rupees ($385,000).
The Election Commission’s order said that Imran is disqualified under Article 63 (1) (p) of the Constitution.
Following the order, the election watchdog moved the Islamabad sessions court seeking criminal proceedings against him – and the PTI chief missed several hearings.
