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Tag: Nawaz Sharif

  • Nawaz gets a Mercedes, Zardari BMWs: New list of Toshakhana gifts reveals what previous govts kept for themselves

    On Sunday, the government officially released long-awaited records regarding the gifts received by public office holders from foreign governments and dignitaries since 2002.

    The Toshakhana, established in 1974, is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and is responsible for the storage of precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states, as well as foreign dignitaries.

    As per the Toshakhana rules, gifts, presents, and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply must be reported to the Cabinet Division.

    The department has been in the news in recent months due to the proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan for “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, announced last month the government’s plan to release the entire record to the public. In addition, officials have been barred from retaining gifts worth more than $300.

    Below are some of the noteworthy gifts kept by political leaders over the years from the Toshakhana:

    Nawaz Sharif

    Nawaz Sharif, the three-time former Prime Minister and PML-N chief, has retained several expensive items over the years. In April 2008, he kept a Mercedes Benz worth Rs4.2 million after paying Rs636,888 for it. In November 2013, he retained a Rolex wristwatch valued at Rs1.18 million after paying a total of Rs243,000 for it and some other items.

    In January 2015, he kept a Piaget wristwatch worth Rs1 million after paying Rs240,000 for it and a box of perfumes. In January 2016, he retained a Christopher Claret watch (Rs2 million), a ring (Rs19.5 million), and a pair of cufflinks (Rs16 million) after paying a total of Rs7.6 million for them and some other items.

    In February 2016, he kept a Dela Cour watch (Rs3.2 million), a ring (Rs8 million), and a pair of cufflinks (Rs5 million) after paying Rs3.2 million for them.

    In October 2016, he retained two Rolex watches, one worth Rs1.2 million and the other Rs850,000, after paying Rs469,000 for them and some other items. In March 2017, his son Hussain Nawaz retained a Rolex watch worth Rs940,000 after paying Rs186,000 for it.

    In May 2017, Nawaz retained a Rolex wristwatch worth Rs4 million after paying Rs808,000 for it.

    Additionally, in January 2016, Nawaz’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz retained a bracelet worth Rs12.7 million and a necklace and earring valued at Rs41.6 million after paying Rs10.8 million for them. In March 2017, Nawaz retained a diamond necklace worth Rs1 million after paying Rs207,560 for it and a table watch.

    Imran Khan

    In September 2018, Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), retained several items from the Toshakhana including a Graff wristwatch (Rs85 million), a pair of cufflinks (Rs5.6 million), a pen (Rs1.5 million), and a ring (Rs8.75 million) by paying Rs20 million for them.

    In the following month of October 2018, he retained a Rolex watch, valued at Rs3.8 million, by paying Rs754,000 for it. He then retained another Rolex watch (Rs1.5m) in the same month by paying Rs294,000 for it. In November 2018, Imran retained another Rolex wristwatch (Rs900,000) by paying a total of Rs338,600 for it along with other items. In October 2019, he retained a boxed watch, assessed at Rs1.9m, by paying Rs935,000 for it.

    In September 2020, Imran retained another Rolex watch, assessed at Rs4.4 million, along with other gifts by paying Rs2.4 million for them. In the same month, his wife Bushra Bibi retained a necklace (Rs10m), bracelet (Rs2.4m), ring (Rs2.8m), and a pair of earrings (Rs1.85 million) by paying Rs9 million for them.

    Asif Ali Zardari

    In January 2009, former President and co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari, retained a BMW car (Rs57.8 million) and a Toyota Lexus (Rs50 million) after paying a total of Rs16.1 million for them. Additionally, he retained another BMW car (Rs27.3 million) after paying Rs4 million.

    In March 2011, Zardari retained a wristwatch (Rs1 million) after paying Rs158,250 for it and other items. Later, in June 2011, he retained a Corum wristwatch (Rs1.25 million) after paying Rs189,219 for it and other items. In October 2011, Zardari retained another Cartier wristwatch (Rs1m) after paying Rs321,000 for it and a gun.

    Arif Alvi

    In October 2019, Samina Alvi, the wife of President Dr Arif Alvi, retained a necklace valued at Rs1.19 million after making a payment of Rs865,000 for it, along with other items in a jewellery box.

    In February 2022, President Dr Arif Alvi retained a Rolex wristwatch valued at Rs2.5 million, after making a payment of Rs1.2 million for it.

    Raja Pervaiz

    In November 2012, former prime minister and National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf retained a Graff wristwatch, which was assessed at Rs890,000. He paid a total of Rs218,000 for the wristwatch and other items.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    In October 2017, ex-premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi retained a Hublot wristwatch (Rs15 million), a pair of cufflinks (Rs1.2 million), a pen (Rs1.5 million), a ring (Rs3 million), and prayer beads (Rs1.85 million) after paying Rs4.5 million for them. His wife, Sameena Shahid, also retained a jewellery set (Rs99 million) after paying Rs19.99 million for it.

    In November 2017, Abbasi retained a Rolex watch boxset (Rs23 million) after paying Rs4.59 million for it. In April 2018, he retained a Rolex wristwatch (Rs25 million) after paying a total of Rs5.27 million for it and other items.

    Pervez Musharraf

    As per the official record, it was revealed that the total value of the gifts presented to the former military ruler, Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, in 2004 amounted to more than Rs6.5 million. Among these gifts, a watch gifted to Musharraf in 2005 was worth Rs500,000. Numerous other precious items such as watches, jewelry boxes, and various other gifts were also presented to the former president, who retained them after paying the required amount.

    In 2003, Musharraf’s wife, Sehba Musharraf, received a jewelry box worth over Rs2.6 million. Additionally, on April 6, 2006, she received gifts worth Rs1.65 million, while on August 1, 2007, the value of her received gifts stood at Rs3.4 million. On April 3, 2007, she was presented with gifts worth over Rs10 million, and on January 31, 2007, Musharraf himself received gifts valued at Rs1.4 million.

    Shaukat Aziz

    In 2005, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz received a watch worth Rs850,000, which was later auctioned off for Rs355,000. Aziz had kept several other gifts by claiming their value to be below Rs10,000. On September 27, 2007, he received another watch worth Rs1.35 million.

    On December 20, 2006, Aziz received gifts worth Rs3.7 million, which he chose to retain. However, during 2006, he returned several other gifts to the Toshakhana. On June 2, 2006, he received a watch worth Rs1.35 million. On January 7, 2007, the former premier received gifts valued at Rs1.8 million. On February 24, 2010, he received a watch worth Rs1.2 million but returned it to the Toshakhana.

    Yousuf Raza Gillani

    In December 2009, former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s wife, Fauzia Gillani, retained a jewellery set (Rs2 million) after paying Rs326,043 for it.

  • ‘I don’t think PML-N can clean sweep in elections’: Miftah Ismail

    ‘I don’t think PML-N can clean sweep in elections’: Miftah Ismail

    Former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has cast doubts over his party’s ability to sweep the upcoming general elections. In an interview with Geo News, the disgruntled Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that he believed whether Pakistanis have Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari or martial law, nothing will improve the system until “we make systemic changes”.

    Talking about the upcoming general elections, Miftah said that he doesn’t see any party sweeping the elections; however, the PML-N leader was sure that he “absolutely does not see PML-N sweeping the elections.”

    Miftah said that any political party be it PML-N, PPP or PTI needs to talk to the people of Pakistan asking them about their real problems and needs.

    “When you hear the leaders today, you hear them say that I want to be the prime minister, there is one leader who is more into I, me and myself than others but it is all about them,” he said.

    “Nobody is talking about the people of Pakistan. What about the 60 per cent of people who earn Rs40,000 a month? What about the young people who cannot find jobs? What about the people living in rural areas? What about an average Pakistani child failing in science and mathematics,” he asked.

    Declaring that nobody is talking about real solutions, Miftah Ismail slammed politics as “just a fight for power, nothing else.”

    There are no new ideas and absolutely no competence, he maintained.

  • ‘As a woman, it is insulting that I have to take Imran Khan’s name’: Maryam Nawaz

    ‘As a woman, it is insulting that I have to take Imran Khan’s name’: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that she, too, has faced harassment even though she hails from a privileged background and has a powerful father.

    Addressing a PML-N women workers convention in Lahore on International Woman’s Day, Maryam said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his party has always targeted her with “personal attacks” when she says something political.

    “They talk about my marriage. My wedding was done with alot of love and festivities by my parents and grandparents. And I am still married to the same person. I don’t want to attack anyone personally,” said Maryam.

    “As a woman, it is insulting that I have to take Imran Khan’s name. Due to the current situation in the country, I have to take his name. Being a woman, I have said this many times, I would never let a person like Imran Khan inside my house,” said Maryam, adding that when Imran is asked about politics, he never gives a political answer. Instead, he, in his jalsa says, “Maryam Nawaz, you say my name so many times, be careful; your husband might get angry with you.”

    Khan in May last year made misogynistic remarks about Maryam Nawaz.

    “In that speech, she took my name with such passion that I would like to tell her: Maryam, please be careful, your husband may get upset because you were constantly repeating my name,” said IK during the speech.

    “I am like a daughter to him [Imran Khan], and now because of the fear of arrest, he has become old and is 72 years old, but when it comes to slurs and personally attacking me, where does his old age go?” questioned Maryam.

  • Bazi lay gaya Khan: 61 per cent Pakistanis positively rate PTI chief

    Bazi lay gaya Khan: 61 per cent Pakistanis positively rate PTI chief

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is “positively rated” among 61 per cent of Pakistanis, whereas only 36 per cent have a “good opinion” about Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

     According to a survey titled Public Pulse Report published by Gallup Pakistan, around 2,000 respondents participated in providing data for the survery.

    According to the report, Khan received a positive rating from 61 per cent of the population while 37 per cent rated him negatively.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif was rated negatively by 65 per cent of Pakistanis while 32 per cent gave him a positive rating. However, people from Punjab rated him better as compared to other provinces.

    As for Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, 36 per cent rated the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman positively while 57 per cent gave him a negative rating. Of all the provinces, he got most positive ratings from Sindh.

    PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, however, was rated negatively by 61 per cent while 34 per cent gave her a positive rating.

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari was rated negatively by 67 per cent while 27 per cent rated him positively.

  • Have evidence against Faiz Hameed, claims Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in an interview with Naya Pakistan, has claimed that she has evidence against the former Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    Maryam Nawaz said that she had been talking against Hameed even when he was the sitting DG ISI. “I submitted an application to the court with evidence when he was the DG ISI.”

    “Imran Khan said the Jail Bharo Tehreek was successful, but I have not seen such a failed movement in history,” she said, adding that the PTI chief had plastered his leg for fear of going to jail.

    She reiterated that the “traces” that Lt Gen (retd) Hameed left behind can still be found in the institution, which are supporting Khan till date citing that as the reason he doesn’t go to jail.

    She claimed that fake cases were registered against her father, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz also said that party members used to get arrested at the start of proceedings.

  • Nisar asks why Nawaz’s religious objections to Benazir’s leadership don’t apply to Maryam

    Nisar asks why Nawaz’s religious objections to Benazir’s leadership don’t apply to Maryam

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party member and former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a public meeting, raised the past to question Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, citing his and Nawaz Sharif’s speeches against the late Benazir Bhutto.

    Recalling the time the party was part of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), the estranged PML-N leader said that he and Nawaz Sharif gave speeches against former Prime Minister and archrival Benazir Bhutto, saying that a woman cannot be a leader or a ruler in an Islamic society.

    Admitting that he too used to say the same things in speeches, Nisar said, “A woman cannot give the azaan, a woman cannot lead prayer congregations, a woman cannot speak in a loud voice so as not to be heard by a non-mahram and she cannot perform Umrah or Hajj without a man.”

    Further questioning the present day scenario where Nawaz Sharif’s daughter is now the Senior Vice-president of the party, Nisar asked that if all that was said in the speeches was pertinent for Benazir Bhutto, then why aren’t the same objections applicable on Maryam Nawaz.

    Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, bitter political rivals in the late 1980s and 1990s, ended their animosity to join hands to bring down General Pervez Musharraf’s government by signing the Charter of Democracy in May, 2006.

  • ‘Now watch the spoilt brat checkmate you’: Maryam trades barbs on Twitter with ‘King of Conspiracies’ Khan

    ‘Now watch the spoilt brat checkmate you’: Maryam trades barbs on Twitter with ‘King of Conspiracies’ Khan

    Senior Vice President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz hit back at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Twitter after he called her a spoilt brat in a tweet.

    “Shameless & calculated attacks on SC judges by PDM & spoilt brat Maryam, nurtured on corruption money, have one purpose only – to run away from elections even by violating Constitution,” tweeted Imran Khan in the afternoon.

    “By attacking SCP, they are damaging the Federation & ensuring law of jungle prevails in Pak,” he wrote.

    Responding to Khan’s accusations, Maryam tweeted, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Your squeals are not amiss as you have been the king of conspiracies,thriving & surviving on them with the help of your Godfather Faiz & his vestiges.”

    “Now watch the ‘spoilt brat’ checkmate you so Godsons & pawns like you are relegated to irrelevance,” tweeted Maryam.

    On Thursday, February 23, Maryam Nawaz Sharif showed pictures of the “cabal of five” she blames for conspiring against her father Nawaz Sharif. Among the photos were two pictures of serving judges of the Supreme Court- Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mazahir Naqvi. The next day, PML-N leader and federal minister Khwaja Asif criticized the judiciary during a speech on the floor of the National Assembly.

  • ‘Do not create controversies’: Khawaja Asif’s lashes out at judiciary on NA floor

    ‘Do not create controversies’: Khawaja Asif’s lashes out at judiciary on NA floor

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday demanded that the Supreme Court (SC) form a full court bench to hear the case pertaining to provincial elections and review past cases, starting with the Panama case in which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for life.

    In a fiery speech on the floor of the National Assembly (NA), Khawaja questioned why some judges were not criticised and raised concerns about judges intervening in parliament’s jurisdiction.

    The minister said he doesn’t want to cross the line in criticism and added that the election date suo motu case should be heard by the full court.

    “It has complained that parliamentarians criticise judges by naming them. I want to ask why some judges are not criticised?”

    Asif said that when judges intervene in the parliament’s jurisdiction, politicians will raise questions about it.

    “Why former justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Khosa are criticised and not Justice Nasir ul Mulk and Tassaduq Hussain Jillani’s name should be raised as well?” he asked.

    Taking a jibe at PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek, Khawaja said Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son came to bail his father out one day after his arrest. 

    “No one came for us when we were arrested for several days. We were sent to 90 days remand. PM and his daughter served jail sentences for numerous days. No one got bail for this. On the other side, they [PTI] get instant bail,” said the minister. 

    “They carry out photo sessions in front of a police van and then leave for home. Jail Bharo Tehreek has flopped. Now it should be doob maro film (Drown in Shame),” said Asif.

    “Imran does not come out of his home, gets pre-arrest bail and then directs his party workers to offer their arrests. Imran’s medical record has not been done yet as he went to his own hospital,” said Asif. He added that the PTI chief considers the people of Pakistan fools. 

    Khawaja questioned how the treatment meted out to Nawaz Sharif justified.

    “Rewriting the Constitution is not the judiciary’s job. This is the outcome of the way Article 63 was rewritten. The way Nawaz Sharif’s government was removed was unfair.”

    Asif urged the judiciary to “prove its gracefulness”. 

    “I would say, correct the mistakes of the past which you have made so that the structure of the state could rely upon a strong foundation that no one can ever dare to challenge it. Do not generate controversies. Do not rewrite Article 63. If such would continue to happen God forbid, an unfortunate incident could take place,” warned Asif.

  • ‘Not my govt’; Maryam Nawaz distances herself from her party’s rule

    ‘Not my govt’; Maryam Nawaz distances herself from her party’s rule

    Senior Vice-president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam Nawaz, has distanced herself from her party’s administration, stating, “This is not my government.”

    Talking to a delegation of youth representatives in Lahore, the Chief Organiser of the party acknowledged that inflation is badly affecting poor people in the government but added that she was not a part of the current government.

    The federal government is formed of a coalition of parties of which PML-N is the largest partner, holding the portfolio of Prime Minister and multiple ministries including Finance.

    When asked about spiralling inflation, Maryam Nawaz said that PML-N is not responsible for it. “It will be our [PML-N’s] government when [party head] Nawaz Sharif will be in Pakistan,” she stated, adding that only he can take the country towards progress.

  • Shahid Khaqan Abbasi confirms Gen Bajwa wanted an extension

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi confirms Gen Bajwa wanted an extension

    Former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has confirmed that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa did indeed ask for an extension from the incumbent government.

    Talking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’, Abbasi told senior journalist Hamid Mir that he met former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Bajwa twice in November 2022. “I met him twice. He knows what I said,” the PML-N leader said in reply to Mir asking him if he was campaigning for an extension for the former army head.

    “I can say that other than Nawaz Sharif, I was the one man who was openly against giving an extension,” he categorically said, adding that he even told his party to leave the government if it was being pressurised to grant the extension.

    He said that in 2018, one year before General Bajwa got an extension in his tenure of service, he told the COAS that he will destroy his own reputation and mar the image of the institution he represents. “I said the same thing in 2022, that this extension will completely destroy the country’s systems,” he stated.

    Hamid Mir then said, “So this means he was trying to get an extension.”

    “He absolutely was,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said in reply, adding that General Bajwa had sent a “clear message” for an extension.

    When asked whether his government was threatened with a martial law, the PML-N leader said that he has no knowledge of such a threat. “But, a lot of people from a lot of parties were in favour of this,” he said, emphasizing that only one man was very clear about not granting an extension. “That was Nawaz Sharif,” he said.

    The host asked Shahid Khaqan Abbasi if he used to meet General Bajwa and then fly to London to talk to his party head Nawaz Sharif. “Yes I did. It was done in the country’s interest,” he replied. Elaborating further, he said that he was outside the country when he received “suspicious” news and then went to party supremo Nawaz Sharif. “I met General Bajwa with Nawaz Sharif’s permission. Then I went back and told Mian Sb what happened, gave my option and came back.”

    He clarified that he told the army head that a smooth transition of command was his biggest responsibility and will be his legacy. “I repeated this to him again and again. He is now part of history. It is not appropriate to discuss this now,” he concluded.