LHC seeks details of Toshakhana gifts recipients’ since 1947

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Monday sought details of all Toshakhana gifts received by political rulers and bureaucrats from foreign dignitaries since 1947—Pakistan’s independence.  

According to the details, the court directed the government officials to submit the details by January 16, seeking records pertaining to the purchase of those assets since 1947. 

The instructions were issued after Justice Asim Hafeez took up a plea, submitted by a civilian identified as Munir Ahmed, seeking court orders for making public the details of gift depository—as well as information regarding who has obtained the assets. 

Munir Ahmed filed the application through senior advocate Azhar Siddique. 

The petitioner pleaded, “The right to information is guaranteed under Article 19 and 19-A of Pakistan’s constitution” and argued that the details of the gifts obtained by the officials from Toshakhana should be made public.

“Article 19(A) of the Constitution has, thus, enabled every citizen to become independent power centres which, heretofore, have been in control of information on matters of public importance. All information that can be of any public importance must be made available to the general public,” the petition read.

He said the public is entitled to know the method used to determine the market price of the gifts and how much money was deposited into the treasury. 

The petitioner also sought information about all the gifts bought/ withdrawn/ taken away by the prime ministers and presidents of Pakistan from 1947 till date. 

While opposing the plea, the federal government’s lawyer stated that the Toshakhana details could not be provided since they are ‘classified’ and ‘confidential’.

The judge, however, asked to submit the details to the court, leaving the decision upon LHC to decide whether or not they are classified. 

The gift depository aka Tosha­khana is a government department established in 1974, which stores gifts given to rulers, politicians, government officials and functionaries by heads of states and other foreign dignitaries.

Toshakhana rules state that all gifts must be submitted to the department.