Islamabad: The Toshakhana saga has taken a new turn as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Wednesday claimed that they will be taking legal action against Dubai-based Pakistani businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor.
Senior PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, and Zulfi Bukhari addressed a press conference in Islamabad. During the press conference, Fawad Chaudhry said the party has decided to initiate legal proceedings against Umar Farooq Zahoor as his claims were baseless.
Imran’s Toshakhana disqualification | By Rizwan Ghani
Businessman Farooq Zahoor appeared on Tuesday in an interview with a private news channel, during which he revealed that the PTI government had sold an expensive Graff wristwatch — gifted to former premier Imran Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman — for $2 million, worth approximately Rs280m at the time of sale in 2019.
Zahoor said that he had bought the rare watch and three other Toshakhana gifts from Farhat Shahzadi, a friend of Imran Khan’s wife, for 7.5 million Dirhams in cash.
Fawad Chaudhry, however, denied the claims by sharing details about the Graff wristwatch in question.
He went on to say that previously public officeholders could pay 20% of the evaluated price of a gift and retain it.
“Imran Khan paid 20% of the evaluated price, and it became his personal property,” Fawad contended, adding that the watch was later sold in the market for approximately Rs57 million.
“Capital gains tax was paid for it accordingly and it was declared in Imran Khan’s returns as well as before the election commission.”
However, Fawad categorically denied the claim of the watch being sold to anyone named Umar Zahoor.
“Neither was it ever handed over to Farah Gujjar for selling … and Ahsan Saleem Gujjar, who is Farah’s husband, clearly said [last] night that she never met him (Zahoor).”
In this connection, Fawad also highlighted Zahoor’s “very shady history”. Zahoor is said to be an influential business personality and is apparently wanted by Norway, Switzerland, Turkiye, and Pakistan since 2009-10 over various financial and other crimes.
In addition to Zahoor, Fawad said that the party has decided to take the Jang media group to the court as well.
Shortly after the press conference of PTI leaders, former Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan denied the “baseless story” and vowed to take legal action against Geo and Shahzeb Khanzada.
Enough is enough. Yesterday Geo & Khanzada supported by Handlers slandered me through a baseless story cooked up by a known fraudster & internationally wanted criminal. I have spoken to my lawyers & I plan to sue Geo, Khanzada & the fraudster not only in Pak but also in UK & UAE.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 16, 2022
