Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Saturday compared the detention of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to the "India model of preventing the main opposition leader from contesting elections." Without drawing a direct comparison, the Congress MP drew parallels with Rahul Gandhi's conviction for his 'Modi surname' comment, which was subsequently halted by the Supreme Court on Friday.
Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Congress MP stated: “Pakistan following the India model in preventing the principal opposition leader from contesting elections."
The Congress MP's response came only minutes after the the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was apprehended at his Zaman Park home in Lahore. He was transferred from Lahore to Islamabad.
What Is Toshakhana Case?
The Toshakhana department store, founded in 1974, sells presents and other valuable things received by governmental figures. It is mandatory for officials to declare gifts and other similar items received to the Cabinet Division, according to its guidelines. Only the president and prime minister are excluded and can keep presents worth less than 30,000 Pakistani Rupees (PKR). Pakistan's two premiers can also keep the pricey presents from Toshakhana by paying a set proportion of their worth as determined by the government.
Imran Khan, Pakistan's Prime Minister from August 2018 to April 2022, was accused of purposely concealing information about the gifts he received from the Toshakhana during his term. Khan allegedly sold these items, which included a Graff wristwatch, a ring, and a Rolex watch, and neglected to declare the revenues from these transactions.
Details of Imran Khan's Toshakhana action were leaked to the media during a political shift in Pakistan, according to Pakistani newspaper Dawn.
On August 4, members of the National Assembly (MNA) from the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a new ruling alliance of the PML-N government in Pakistan, filed a referral with the Speaker of the National Assembly, demanding the disqualification of the deposed Prime Minister as a member of the legislature as well.
According to the reference, the prime minister neglected to report the proceeds from the sale of the presents in his yearly statement of assets and liabilities, which all MPs are supposed to submit to the ECP.