Court returns NAB's Toshakhana reference against Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari

Islamabad: An accountability court Wednesday sent back the Toshakhana reference against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif and former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to National Accountability Bureau (NAB). 

According to the details, the reference was returned by judge Muhammad Bashir after the PPP and PML-N leaders appealed to cancel the case owing to recent amendments in NAB Ordinance.

As per new law, a case cannot be filed on irregularities amounting to less than Rs500 million. However, the charge on accused leaders was for Rs110 million.

Therefore, the court ruled that the Toshakhana reference does not fall in its ambit, terming it 'invalid'. 

In 2020, NAB filed the Toshakhana reference in an accountability court against the three former Premiers over allegedly acquiring three vehicles--including BMW 750 Li model 2004, Toyota Lexus Jeep 472 model 2007 and BMW 760 LI model 2008-- gifted by foreign dignitaries. 

According to the bureau, Gilani in order to extend illegal benefit to the accused, Zardari and Sharif, illegally allowed the retention of vehicles, which at that time belonged to the Central Pool of Cars, Cabinet Division, relaxing the procedure of Toshakhana, illegally. 

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. However, they can later be bought. While selling the gifts is not strictly illegal, many consider it unethical and morally wrong.

More to follow...