• The report was filed by a section officer.
• Information pertaining to Toshakhana gifts is classified
• Cabinet division asked court to adjourn the hearing

LAHORE: The federal government on Thursday told the Lahore High Court (LHC) that a new policy on the Toshakhana pending before the cabinet would be more transparent and fair in accordance with international practices.

“Proposed Toshakhana Procedure, 2022 and draft Toshakhana Bill have been circulated to the cabinet members so that a wholesome discussion could take place in the cabinet for finalizing the new transparent & fair policy,” revealed a report submitted by the cabinet division in a petition seeking complete details of Toshakhana gifts received by the political rulers and the bureaucrats from foreign dignitaries since the creation of Pakistan.

The report filed by a section officer further revealed that the prime minister office through a notification issued on Nov 26, 2015 declared that the information pertaining to Toshakhana gifts was classified as disclosure of such information could cause unnecessary media hype, which could be potentially damaging to the interests of Pakistan in the conduct of international relations.

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It said the prime minister office’s letter observed that the information was also covered under section 15 (1) of the erstwhile Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002.

Later, the report said, the Right to Access to Information Act 2017 also provided exemption from disclosure of the information pertaining to the personal privacy of an individual, the information declared as classified by the minister-in-charge of the federal government and the information which disclosure may cause damage to the interests of Pakistan’s international relations.

The cabinet division asked the court to adjourn the hearing and allow ample time till the federal cabinet’s approval on the recommendations of the inter-ministerial committee on the new Toshakhana Bill.

After going through the report, Justice Asim Hafeez expressed his astonishment over the reasons cited by the government to keep the Toshakhana information classified.

The judge said what would be the situation if a foreign dignitary secured a contract of LNG after gifting a luxury car to a Pakistan ruler.

Petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique argued that how the details of the Toshakhana gift received by former prime minister Imran Khan was disclosed if the information was classified since 2015.

Justice Hafeez directed the secretary cabinet to submit an affidavit explaining as to how the Toshakhana details were classified.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Feb 7.