Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday once again turned its guns towards the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ahead of the hearing of Toshakhana case against party chief Imran Khan, accusing the commission of having a biased attitude towards the party.
Senior vice-president of the PTI Dr Shireen Mazari in a statement accused the ECP of “constantly targeting PTI chairman Imran Khan despite the fact that he has paid all required taxes and fulfilled all legal requirements in relation to Toshakhana gifts”.
The electoral body, she said, had adopted a “very biased approach” as it did not take notice of the gifts that had been taken by the two Sharifs, Asif Zardari and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani from Toshakhana.
In Aug this year, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had sent the reference to the ECP, seeking Imran Khan’s disqualification in the light of the Toshakhana case. The reference contended that Imran Khan did not disclose the details of gifts taken from Toshakhana and the amount received from the sale of these gifts.
The ECP had sought a written reply from Mr Khan by Sept 8. In his reply, Mr. Khan had admitted to having sold at least four presents he had received during his tenure as the prime minister of Pakistan.
The former premier, however, maintained that the sale of the gifts that he had procured from the state treasury after paying Rs21.56 million fetched about Rs58 million. One of the gifts included a graff wristwatch, a pair of cuff links, an expensive pen and a ring while the other three gifts included four Rolex watches.
PTI chairman Imran Khan lashed out at the government for allegedly plunging the country into myriad problems, saying the “imported government, brought in through regime change conspiracy,” had wreaked havoc with the economy.
Tosha khana case against Imran Khan is scheduled on Monday with ECP. We have submitted all declarations, taxes paid & all related documents to ECP. Inshallah our tormentors will bite the dust, yet again.
— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) September 16, 2022
