PTI has rejected the claims made by a Dubai-based businessman regarding the purchase of expensive Toshakhana gifts by PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
According to the details, the Norwegian-Pakistani businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor claimed that he purchased an expensive watch originally gifted to Imran Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman from Farah Gogi and PTI leader Shahzad Akbar.
Umar Farooq Zahoor claimed that he has evidence to prove he bought the rare watch and three other Toshakhana gifts from Farhat Shahzadi, also known as Farah Gogi, for 7.5 million Dirhams in cash.
Read more: Toshakhana: The zenith of Imran Khan’s corruption?
The millionaire businessman gave an interview to a private media channel and showed evidence of the purchase as well as all the Toshakhana gifts he owns now. He also alleged that he was later on blackmailed and fake cases of money laundering were registered against him by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at the behest of Shahzad Akbar.
PTI rejects claims
Needless to say, the story has raised a storm in Pakistan as Imran Khan gets criticized, especially by the PML-N camp. Moreover, Umar Farooq Zahoor’s claims come after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference. On the other hand, PTI leaders have hit out at the claims made by Umar Farooq Zahoor.
Shahzad Akbar said he had never met or spoken to Zahoor. He said that Zahoor registered a case against him in Islamabad’s Secretariat Police Station.
“He registered a fake case against me although the law is that no case can be registered unless a person is in the country,” he added. He said Zahoor was “FIA’s wanted man” but his case was terminated by the current government.
صرف یہ نہیں ایک ماہ پہلے اسی شخص کی مدیت میں مجھ سمیت FIA کی ڈاکٹر رضوان کی پوری ٹیم جو چاچو کرائم منسٹر کے خلاف ۱۶ ارب منی لانڈرنگ کی تفتیش کر رہی تھی کے خلاف تھانہ سیکرٹیریٹ میں ایک جھوٹا مقدمہ درج کروایا گیا حالانکہ قانون یہ ہے کہ ملک میں آے بغیر کیسے FIR درج ہو سکتی ہے ؟ https://t.co/XCxqGtzURa
— Mirza Shahzad Akbar (@ShazadAkbar) November 15, 2022
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, in a series of tweets, said Imran Khan purchased the wristwatch from Toshakhana in accordance with the law and it was declared in the particulars of the ECP. He also criticized businessman Umar Farooq for making false claims of purchasing a $5 million wristwatch at the cheapest price.
عمر فاروق نے بتایا کہ میری نکڑ والی دکان والے نے بتایا کہ اس گھڑی کی قیمت 5 ملین ڈالر ہے لیکن مین نے بیس ڈالر میں خرید لی:) اس کے بعد میں نے میر ابراھیم کو فون کیا کہ بھائ جان میں نے عمران خان کی گھڑی کے لی انھوں نے فون پر مجھے پپی دی اور رات کو میں خانزادہ کے پروگرام پر بیٹھ گیا
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 15, 2022
Other PTI leaders also lashed out at Umar Farooq Zahoor and made several allegations against him and also said he had the backing of the incumbent PML-N government.
“A wanted man, a criminal and we are to believe his word! Joke! Earlier this morning dictator Zia’s man Gen (retd) Chishti gave a bizarre presser to try and target Imran Khan followed by this drama. Desperation is written largely, especially when nothing works,” Shireen Mazari said.
A wanted man, a criminal and we are to believe his word! Joke! Earlier this morning dictator Zia's man Gen retd Chishti gave a bizarre presser to try & target IK followed by this drama. Desperation writ large esp when nothing works. #WeTrustImranKhan pic.twitter.com/RO9lf6crls
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 15, 2022
“This fraudster who was on Interpol’s list went and got valuation done from a corner shop rather than Graff [watchmaker] itself. The fake valuation is at 12m. An open challenge, let’s go to the makers, Graff. It was sold for Rs 5.7 Crore. Yet another fraud and lie by this criminal. It’s a circus,” Sayed Zulfi Bukhari said.
This fraudster who was on interpol lists went & got valuation done from a corner shop rather than Graff itself. The fake valuation is at 12m. Open challenge let’s go to the makers Graff. It was sold for Rs 5.7 Cr. Yet another fraud and lie by this criminal. It’s a circus. pic.twitter.com/q5JLkjoJLo
— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) November 15, 2022
“Tosha Khana has been launched once again. But this time with international fraud. This item is no longer sold. The nation knows everything now. The more you spit on the moon, the more it will fall on your face,” Dr. Shahbaz Gill said.
توشہ خانہ کو ایک بار لانچ کیا گیا۔ لیکن اس بار ایک انٹرنیشنل دو نمبری کے ساتھ۔ یہ منجھن اب نہیں بکنے والا۔ قوم سب کچھ جانتی ہے اب۔ چاند پر جتنا تھوکیں گے اتنا ہی منہ پر گِرے گا۔
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) November 15, 2022
“Will they ever learn or not? Insafians sitting on social media are enough to dispel these false stories against Imran Khan,” Asad Umar said.
یہ کبھی سیکھیں گے یا نہیں؟ عمران خان کے خلاف ان جھوٹی داستانوں کا تیا پانچہ کرنے کے لئے سوشل میڈیا میں بیٹھے انصافین ہی کافی ہیں.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 15, 2022
“Imran Khan is an honest man. This fact sets the dishonest ones on fire from within,” Hammad Azhar said.
Read more: Toshakhana: The mother of all corruption?
عمران خان ایک ایماندار آدمی ہے۔ یہ حقیقت بے ایمانوں کو اندر سے آگ لگا دیتی ہے۔
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) November 15, 2022