Government notifies LHC of Toshakhana gifts

LAHORE On Tuesday, a top official described information provided by the federal government to the Lahore High Court (LHC) as “classified.”

The government said that it was reluctant to disclose the Toshakhana facts because it may harm Pakistan’s interests in its foreign ties.

The Cabinet Division had also presented a report before the court, telling that a new policy on the Toshakhana was being created which would be more transparent, fair and in compliance with international principles.

A hearing was held by Justice Asim Hafeez of the LHC on a petition brought by attorney Munir Ahmad through Advocate Azhar Siddique in 2022, asking the government to disclose all the information regarding Toshakhana gifts that political leaders and bureaucrats have received from foreign dignitaries since Pakistan’s founding.

The petitioner argues that citizens of democratic societies need to have access to enough information to make informed choices that might have an impact on them. As a result, every public act and everything that is done in a public fashion by public officials and their selected representatives must be disclosed to the people of Pakistan.