A court in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, has summoned the country’s former prime minister Imran Jan on January 9 to press charges against him for selling gifts received from international leaders while in office.
The Pakistani judiciary has thus announced the opening of criminal proceedings against Jan for the alleged theft of expensive gifts given to the state, according to prosecutor Saah Hassan.
Among the gifts Jan received while serving as head of government (2018-2022) were a gold-plated AK-47 rifle, jewelry, diamonds and luxury watches and cufflinks given by rulers of the richest countries in the Persian Gulf.
According to Pakistani law, Jan was obliged to hand over these gifts to the state. However, the former prime minister sold them in the Emirati city of Dubai and never declared the proceeds in his estate.
The electoral authorities have already disqualified Jan from politics for the same offense and now, if convicted, the former prime minister could face prison sentences.
His party, the Pakistan Justice Movement, rejected the decision and regretted the authorities’ attempt to keep the popular Pakistani leader out of politics through «deplorable maneuvers».
Jan came to power after a disputed election in 2018 and was ousted by the Pakistani Parliament last April through a no-confidence motion. Following these events, the former prime minister has staged mass marches demanding his return to the head of government.
