Fawad Chaudhry refutes PM Shehbaz’s claims, says new premier is “throwing dirt on Imran Khan”
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday accused PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan of selling gifts received during foreign visits.
Prime Minister Sharif made these claims during a meeting with senior journalists at PM House on Friday.
“I can confirm you that Imran Khan took gifts worth Rs140 million from Toshakhana and sold them in Dubai,” he said, adding that valuable state gifts include diamond jewellery, bracelets and watches. As per the country’s law, any gift received from dignitaries of a foreign state must be put in the state depository or the Toshakhana.
The prime minister also termed reports regarding closure of Ehsaas program, panagahs [shelter homes] and as baseless. “Govt will not close panagahs,” he added.
In September 2021, former SAPM Shahbaz Gill refuted allegations and said that gifts received by Prime Minister Imran Khan during foreign visits had been deposited to Toshakhana. He was responding to a debate on social media regarding secrecy maintained in the gifts received by the then premier during official tours. It is pertinent to mention here that cases are pending in the Pakistan courts against former prime ministers and a president including Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Yusuf Raza Gilani regarding gifts received by them during official tours.
Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani are named in a reference for allegedly obtaining luxury vehicles from the treasury by paying 15 percent of the actual price.
Fawad refutes PM Shehbaz’s claims
Former federal minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, however, refuted PM Shehbaz Sharif’s statement, saying that the new premier is “throwing dirt on Imran Khan”.
Fawad claimed that Khan bought a watch — that he received from a foreign country — from the government of Pakistan and sold it. “What is the offence if the [then] prime minister sold the watch he bought from the government?” Fawad asked.
“It doesn’t matter if the watch is worth Rs50 million or 100 milllion […] if it is mine and I sold it, there shouldn’t be any objection.”
He went on to say that he is unable to understand what exactly PM Shehbaz’s allegation is.
“Shehbaz Sharif is confused and he can’t decide how to level allegations against Imran Khan”.
Fawad advised PM Shehbaz to avoid superficial gossip and focus on national issues.
