ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) said the gifts received by the government officials from foreign governments and their representatives ought to be displayed in a museum instead of secreting their details.
In September, the Cabinet Division challenged in the high court an “illegal” order of the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) seeking details of the gifts presented to Imran Khan after he became the prime minister — an act dubbed stonewalling by many.
Government ethics rules mean the prime minister, ministers and special advisers must declare gifts received above a certain value — and pay for any of the gifts they wish to keep.
The high court had also questioned the government’s reluctance to disclose details of the presents the prime minister received from world leaders after assuming office in August 2018.
During a hearing of a petition seeking the disclosure of gifts presented to Khan on Thursday, the court said displaying these presents in the museum will lead to the “public happiness”.
As the additional attorney general, Qasim Wadood, sought more time, the petitioner urged the court not to delay the proceedings.
“If more time is given in the case then the petition will become ineffective,” he said. “Do you think the gifts will be sold by then,” Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb asked the petitioner.
The judge said the case will not become ineffective even after the premier is gone because this issue concerns everyone, including ministers and civil servants, not just one person.
Justice Aurangzeb said if he is awarded a shield, he would display it in the high court instead of taking it home.
At this, the additional attorney general said the government was ready to comply if the court issued orders in this regard.
Justice Aurangzeb responded that nobody was stopping the government from implementing these orders and asked Wadood to file a petition in this regard.
