Imran Khan, the former Pakistani captain and Prime Minister for four years, was arrested on Saturday (5th August) and sentenced to 3 years in prison. A trial court sentenced the World Cup-winning Captain to prison after Khan was found to be guilty in the Toshakhana Case, which involves failing to declare proceeds of gifts from the state to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
“Imran Dilawar, Additional District and Sessions judge of the Indian Express stated that Imran Khan had deliberately provided fake details [of Toshakhana gift] to ECP. He is guilty of corrupt practices.”
Khan was not arrested for the first time. Imran Khan was facing multiple charges when he was arrested in May of this year. He was released two day later after the Supreme Court declared his arrest to be illegal. Khan is still in court, with more than 150 cases against him.
What is the Toshakhan Case in which Imran is convicted?
Toshakhana, a department that is under the administrative control the Cabinet Division and stores expensive gifts received by public officials was created in 1974. Imran Khan was the Pakistani PM between 2018 and 2022. He is accused of hiding information about gifts given to Toshakhana, as well as proceeds from “illegal” sales of some of the gifts that violated Toshakhan regulations.
It is mandatory for officials to inform the Cabinet Division of any gifts or other materials they receive. Imran Khan, Pakistan’s PM, did not reveal the specifics of the gifts that he received. Khan justified the decision by saying that disclosing details could affect his relationship with the countries from which he received the gifts.
Khan admitted selling some of the gifts he received, including a Graff Watch given to him by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Rolex watch, expensive cufflinks and valuable pens.
