ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is planning to drag Pakistan’s big media group Jang & Geo and its anchorperson Shehzaib Khanzada to court for airing a ‘slanderous’ interview of a Pakistani businessman who claimed to have purchased royal gifts given to Imran Khan by Gulf official.
Umar Farooq Zahoor, in the TV show on Tuesday night claimed to have purchased the gifts for $2 million (Dh 7.35 million) worth approximately Rs280m at the time of sale in 2019.
In interview with anchorperson Shahzaib Khanzada, Umar Farooq claimed that he made the payment in cash on the request of former aide to PM Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior Mirza Shehzad Akbar.
Farah Khan Gogi, a close friend of Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi, had brought the precious gifts to his office, he further claimed. According to him, she demanded $5 million but the deal was done for $2 million.
On Wednesday, Imran Khan took to social media and accused the media group and the anchorperson of the TV channel for ‘cooking up’ a story through a known fraudster and internationally wanted criminal,” he tweeted.
“Enough is enough. Yesterday Geo & Khanzada supported by Handlers slandered me through a baseless story cooked up by a known fraudster & internationally wanted criminal. I have spoken to my lawyers & I plan to sue Geo, Khanzada & the fraudster,” said Imran Khan in his tweet.
Imran’s party defends its leader
Former Information Minister and vice chairman of the PTI Fawad Chaudhry denied allegations that PTI Chairman Imran Khan had sold a state gift and announced his party would initiate legal proceedings against the businessman and Jang Group in London.
Imran Khan, he said, doesn’t know the so-called buyer and the gifts were never sold to him. Calling Umar Farooq Zahoor a man wanted by international police, Fawad also challenged the document shown on the TV screen and questioned their credibility.
“As per Geo TV own report Gifts were sold in 2019. Evaluation was done on 15-11-2022. i.e Today..., apparently just before recording todays programme,” he said in a tweet.
It may be mentioned here Imran Khan was disqualified by Pakistan’s electoral watchdog in the same “Tosha Khana” case over his failure to give a trail of the money received through sale of Tosha Khana gifts in his declaration of assets.
Most-followed story
Umar Farooq Zahoor’s interview on Geo TV was the most-followed story on social media as well as conventional media on Wednesday and a number of Pakistani newspapers gave front page coverage to the scandal while TV channels did follow-up programmes on it.
Imran Khan admitted in a written reply on September 8, 2022 that he had sold at least four presents — including a diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon Minute Repeater with Makkah map dial GM2751, set with pave diamonds, diamond cufflinks with 2.12ct H IF and 2.11ct I IF round diamonds GR46899, a diamond gent’s ring 7.20cts and a VVSl rose gold pen —he had received during his tenure as the prime minister.
