Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday ordered the federal government to produce Toshakhana records dating back to 2002.
The court heard a plea for records of the Toshakhana [the treasury that holds state gifts] from Pakistan’s founding to the present. The Federal Cabinet Secretary provided the record.
The additional attorney general (AAG) apprised the court that the cabinet had declassified the record and it would be uploaded on the website as the federal government had not shared the record on state gifts with him. As the AAG presented the court order directing the government to declassify the record, the appellant argued that the government should furnish a complete record instead. Justice Asim Hafiz remarked that it took time to do things as the government had decided to put the record online this year.
Asked by Judge Asim Hafiz whether the government had records dating back to 2002, the AAG replied that earlier records were not available online. The court ordered the government to provide the records at the next hearing scheduled for March 13.
Earlier, the federal government had handed over details of Toshakhana’s gift to the LHC, which a senior official described as “confidential”.
The government had primarily expressed aversion to submit the Toshakhana details, explaining that the revelation may “cause damage to the interests of Pakistan’s international relations”.
