The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought a report from the Cabinet Division in a petition seeking implementation on the decision of the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) regarding the provision of Toshakhana gifts details from 1947 till date.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the petition regarding the matter.
Deputy Attorney General Syed Ahsan Raza Shah informed the court that he was not sure whether the Toshakhana record before 1990 was available or not. Such information should be present on websites, he added. The court instructed sharing of the record if available with the petitioner.
The petitioner’s counsel said the Cabinet Division had refused to share the requested information stating it as classified. The PIC had issued an order on June 29 in that regard, he added.
Justice Miangul Hassan asked why the petitioner was limiting the information to the extent of former presidents and prime ministers, and why not public servants should be included in the list. The court adjourned the case till the next date.
Earlier in the day, the IHC served notices to respondents on the post-arrest bail petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Azam Khan Swati. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case filed by Swati seeking bail in the controversial tweet case registered by FIA. Earlier, a local court had rejected the bail petition of PTI’s leader. Petitioner’s lawyer Dr Babar Awan said that his client had not tweeted and intended to defame any institution. He said the prosecution had no evidence against Swati even after the completion of the investigation. The lawyer said that the petitioner was a 75-year-old cardiac patient. The whole case was based on documented allegations, he contended, adding that keeping the accused in jail would be a punishment before the commencement of trial. The court served notices to respondents and adjourned the hearing till January 2.
