President Zardari to confer Hilale-Imtiaz on Toshakhana whistleblower

President Asif Ali Zardari has announced to confer Hilal-e-Imtiaz on Umar Farooq, the whistleblower who exposed the misappropriation of state gifts by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.

Dubai-based businessman was included in the list of 104 individuals selected for state awards in recognition of their contributions to Pakistan in various fields. The awards will be conferred in a ceremony on May 23, 2025.

He played a crucial role in the Toshakhana case, which involved the alleged misuse of state gifts worth over Rs40 million ($500,000) by the PTI founder.

The businessman revealed in an interview that he had purchased a rare Graff watch and other gift items from Khan, which led to Khan's conviction in the Toshakhana case. 

Despite Khan's attempts to present evidence and receipts during the trial, Umar Farooq's testimony and the evidence he provided played a pivotal role in the case. 

Pakistani authorities also confirmed Farooq's ownership of the gifts after an investigation.

On January 31, 2024, an Islamabad accountability court sentenced the elite couple to 14 years in prison in the Toshakhana case. 

However, on April 1, 2024, the Islamabad High Court suspended the sentence.

On July 14, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were rearrested and sentenced to one year in prison on new Toshakhana-related charges after the IHC suspended their conviction in the Iddat case.