Gifts received by govt from other countries should be displayed in a museum instead of keeping their details secret: Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD, Nov 11 (SABAH): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Thursday said the gifts received by the government from other countries should be displayed in a museum instead of keeping their details secret.

During a hearing of a petition seeking the disclosure of gifts received by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the High Islamabad Court bench said displaying these foreign gifts in the museum will lead to the general public’s happiness.

At the outset of the hearing, the Additional Attorney General Qasim Wadood, who was representing the federation, sought more time in the case. However, the petitioner urged the court not to delay the case. “If more time is given in the case then the petition will become ineffective,” he said.

“Do you think the gifts will be sold by then,” Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb asked the petitioner. The judge said the case will not become ineffective even after the premier is gone because this issue concerns everyone, including ministers and civil servants, not just one person.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said if he is awarded a shield he would display it in the high court instead of taking it home. He added that even the gifts that were taken home by the people should be brought back and displayed in a museum.

At this, the additional attorney general said that the government was ready to comply if the court issued orders in this regard. Justice Aurangzeb responded that nobody was stopping the government from implementing these orders and asked Barrister Wadood to file a petition in this regard.

According to the IHC judge, the gifts given to the United States by Pakistan were kept in a “centre” by the US government. He added that displaying such gifts in museums will make Pakistanis happy as well.

At the request of the additional attorney general, the high court directed the attorney general to provide judicial assistance and adjourned the hearing of the case till December 8.

It may be noted that the petitioner had moved the IHC after the federal government refused to disclose the details of gifts received by the premier from other states, despite the order of the Pakistan Information Commission.