State Gifts.

With the details of Toshakhana records now public, it is clear that as expected, most, if not all top political leadAers and heads of government have benefitted enorAmously from the lax rules around procuring gifts given to them as representatives of the state. Many have kept these gifts for free or have paid paltry sums. The list includes all major leaders such as Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, current PM Shehbaz Sharif and forAmer Presidents Asif Ali Zardari and Pervez Musharraf.

The details only confirm what was already known. The fact that Imran Khan pocketed watches and then sold them or that both Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif procured bulletproof vehicles was already reported, but no action has been taken.

This is because on the surface, all these actions were legal. However, there are questions that these records pose that only the leaders themselves can answer. In almost all situations, the value of gifts is paltry, compared to what is listed. JewelAry sets, one-of-a-kind watches and customised bulletproof veAhicles are generally valued much higher in...