Imran Khan “sold” the gold medal he received from India: Pak Defense Minister

Imran Khan was ousted in April after a no-confidence motion was passed. (file)

Islamabad:

The country’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan “sold” the gold medal he received from India during his cricketing years.

The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician is under fire these days for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch, which he received as prime minister at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana, and selling them for profit. Was staying

The Express Tribune newspaper on Tuesday quoted a senior Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader as saying that during a television program on Monday, Asif said that Khan had “sold a gold medal that he had received from India”.

Mr Asif did not give any details about the gold medal allegedly sold by Khan.

The report said that Imran Khan’s actions were not illegal, but contrary to the high moral standards that Mr Khan had always spoken about.

Usually, such gifts are either permanently deposited in the Toshakhana or can be bought by the person who has received them at a low cost.

Mr Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan for making “false statements and false declarations” in the Toshakhana issue.

As per the report, on 8 September the ousted prime minister admitted in a written reply that he had sold at least four gifts he had received during his tenure as prime minister.

Meanwhile, while addressing a session of the National Assembly, the Defense Minister took a jibe at Khan and said the former prime minister had “gone mad for power”. He said Mr Khan should not “target” the institutions that “unconditionally supported him” during the past four years.

Mr. Asif said that the PTI chairman could not function despite assistance provided by the institutions supporting him. He said that Mr. Khan was condemning the country’s armed forces despite the fact that he had declared to remain apolitical.

“After 75 years, we are at a point where we can say that all institutions are playing their constitutional role. These institutions have given ‘unconditional support’ to Imran Khan,” he said.

He (Imran) should not attack these institutions but should be ashamed of himself that despite their help he could not perform. Imran Khan, who survived an assassination attempt earlier this month, is expected to resume his long march this week demanding early elections.

Mr Khan was removed in April after a no-confidence motion was passed against him.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)