The government on Thursday recorded its apprehensions before the Lahore High Court regarding Toshakhana gifts, saying the public disclosure of such articles could cause “unnecessary media hype, which might be potentially damaging to the interests of Pakistan in the conduct of international relations”.
The concern was raised by the government in its report submitted before the single-judge bench during the hearing of a petition seeking to make records of Toshakhana gifts public.
The petition was filed by a private citizen Munir Ahmad through advocate Azhar Siddique in December 2022.
The government’s stance also comes against the backdrop of its criticism of Imran for “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts and proceeds from their alleged sale. A reference was also filed against the PTI chief by the coalition government in August last year for not declaring in his assets the amount he received from the sale of state gifts.
The PTI, while in government, had been reluctant to disclose details of the gifts presented to Imran since he assumed office in 2018, maintaining that doing so would jeopardise international ties, even as the Pakistan Information Commission ordered it to do so.
Justice Asim Hafeez of the LHC conducted the proceedings, while Additional Attorney General Nasar Ahmed appeared on behalf of the government. The hearing was adjourned till Feb 7.
