A Dubai-based businessman provides details about the sale of Toshakhana gifts by Farah Gogi on Imran Khan’s behalf.
Farah Gogi and Shahzad Akbar sold a pricey Graff wristwatch worth at least Rs 2 billion that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had given to former prime minister Imran Khan to Dubai-based billionaire Umar Farooq Zahoor. The unique watch and three other Toshakhana gifts were purchased by Zahoor, a Norwegian-Pakistani millionaire, from Farhat Shahzadi, popularly known as Farah Gogi, for 7.5 million dirhams in cash.
The businessman appeared on Geo News’ “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” to demonstrate the purchase and all of the current Toshakhana items he owns. The businessman claimed that after he refused to comply with the requests of his ex-wife, Sophia Mirza, Shahzad Akbar later harassed him and had fictitious money laundering cases filed against him by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
In an affidavit, Zahoor says: “I, Umar Farooq, S/O late Zahoor Ahmed, resident of R/o (Address as Per CNIC) House No. D-102/1, Block-4, Clifton Karachi, currently residing at Muhammad Bin Rashid City, District One, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), do hereby solemnly affirm and declare on oath that I was introduced to Ms. Farhat Shahzadi by Mr. Shehzad Akbar and purchased from Ms. Farhat Shahzadi having my CNIC No. 35201-262
In his declaration, Zahoor mentions the four gifts that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman gave to former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and that he bought from Farah Gogi.
The gifts offered include a diamond gentleman’s ring weighing 7.20 carats, a diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon Minute Repeater with Makkah Map Dial, a VVS2 rose gold pen set with pavé diamonds, and an enamel Mecca map.
According to Zahoor, a free-lance ambassador for the Republic of Liberia, Gogi was introduced to him by the former accountability minister Shahzad Akbar in March 2019. He advised him to meet her while in Dubai so he could look at the unwanted rare gifts she wanted to sell.
He claims that he was immediately fascinated when he first met Gogi and saw the gifts since they are unique and irreplaceable.
Gogi was honest. She explained the background of these gifts to me, stating that the Saudi Crown Prince had given them to Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan. She then stated that she wanted to sell them on behalf of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Begum. She informed me that I had to meet her in Dubai at Akbar’s request.
“I didn’t haggle the price after confirming the products’ legitimacy.” Because these presents are valuable, I gave her whatever she requested. Gogi called Akbar to let him know the sale was complete as soon as the payment was completed and thanked him for introducing her to me. Akbar thanked me for purchasing the Toshakhana gifts and asked me to keep this affair private. I concurred.” According to Zahoor, things were peaceful until Akbar reconnected with him and requested that he send their two daughters back to Pakistan on Sophia Mirza’s behalf.
For the past 14 years or more, Zahoor and Sophia have fought in court for custody of their twin daughters. Umar Farooq claims that Akbar threatened to take his girls to Pakistan and force him to settle the conflict with Sophia on her terms or suffer the repercussions.
“I refused to be blackmailed, and Akbar launched a terror campaign against me,” Zahoor claimed. He registered fictitious cases of international financial crimes through the FIA. Unfortunately, purchasing this pricey watch was my biggest mistake since it marked me as a wealthy individual, and an extortion campaign was launched against me using every government agency, including the cabinet of the former prime minister, who gave Akbar broad permission to pursue me. Through a “Red Notice,” Interpol was mishandled in an attempt to extradite me to Pakistan. In cooperation with his ex-wife Sophia, Akbar, according to Zahoor, lied to Imran Khan’s cabinet and obtained authorization to file fictitious criminal charges against him.
“On the accusation of my ex-wife, who was threatening me, the FIA Corporate Crime Circle in Lahore also opened an investigation into claims of fraud and money laundering involving about Rs 16 billion.” My name was added to the Exit Control List; non-bailable warrants in one of the FIRs were obtained from the Court without meeting the legal requirements; as a result of said non-bailable warrants, my passport and CNIC were blacklisted, and the National Crime Bureau of Pakistan issued red warrants through Interpol for my arrest. I’m speaking up right now to let Pakistanis know the truth about the nature of these individuals who held powerful positions there.
Imran Khan, the chairman of the PTI and a former prime minister, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were able to keep all 112 gifts, totaling Rs142.02 million, from the Toshakhana of the Pakistani government by paying just Rs40 million. PTI disputes Farah Gogi’s connection to the sale. Farhat Shahzadi, according to a PTI source, has denied any role in the sale. She hasn’t released a comment to the public, but Shahzad Akbar debunked the accusations against him on Twitter.
Shahzad Akbar said that he had never spoken to or met Zahoor. He said that Zahoor had filed a complaint against him at the Secretariat Police Station in Islamabad. Although the law states that a case cannot be registered unless a person is in the nation, the man continued, “He registered a phoney case against me.” He claimed that although Zahoor was the “FIA’s sought man,” the present administration had closed his case.
“This is a wanted man, a criminal, and we are to believe his word,” declared Shireen Mazari. Joke! This drama came after a weird press conference Gen. (retd.) Chishti gave up earlier this morning to try and target dictator Zia. The word “desperation” is used frequently, particularly when nothing works. Fawad Chaudhary, a former minister of communications, claimed Imran Khan had bought the watch legally.
“This is reflected in his tax returns and in the election commission filings.” “The person Geo and Jang interviewed has no relation with Imran Khan, directly or indirectly; the watch was not sold to him.” PTI made several allegations against Zahoor, including his pictures with a few retired generals, and alleged the current government was behind him. Former PTI minister Faisal Vawda said that he had met Zahoor with a Dubai sheikh on the instructions of Imran Khan.
