–Nawaz shifted to Lahore from Rawalpindi
LAHORE: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, visited her father in Kot Lakhpat Jail and spent an hour with him on Tuesday afternoon, according to media reports.
Earlier in the day, Nawaz Sharif was shifted to Lahore under the oversight of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He was flown via a special flight from Nur Khan Airbase.
The father-daughter duo spent an hour together. Maryam reportedly also brought food and clothing for him.
Earlier, Nawaz celebrated his birthday in Adiala Jail where the inmates and administration of the central jail made special arrangements to celebrate his birthday. He was greeted with flower bouquets and a specially-made cake. He was also facilitated with a new bed sheet, heater, and TV in his jail room.
Reportedly, the former premier could not sleep the night before due to mental stress and was facilitated with hot water for a bath in the morning. He got up early in the morning and recited the Holy Quran after offering Fajr prayers and was later entertained with breakfast dispatched by Senator Chaudhry Tanvir. He, however, opted for juice and a slice of bread for breakfast.
The visiting PML-N workers also held a cake cutting ceremony outside Adiala Jail and greeted him with slogans in favour of his political struggle.
PROVISION OF B-CLASS FACILITIES:
Earlier, Punjab Home Secretary Captain (r) Fazeel Asghar said that B-class facilities for Nawaz have been prepared at Kot Lakhpat Jail. He explained that Nawaz will be stationed in the same compound of the prison as his brother Shehbaz Sharif.
According to a Punjab home department press release, he will be provided with a mattress, newspapers, basic furniture such as table and chair. He will also be permitted to bring utensils from his home. He can also request food be brought from home. He is to get these facilities under Rule Number 242 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978. Furthermore, stringent measures have been taken to ensure security as well.
An accountability court on Monday sentenced the former premier to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference and ordered that his Hill Metal Establishment properties be seized. The former premier, however, was acquitted in the Flagship Investments reference.
Following the judgement, Nawaz was taken into custody from the courtroom. His lawyer Khawaja Haris had requested the judge that the PML-N supremo be shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Central Jail instead of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The court, after reserving its verdict on the request, agreed but said that he would be sent to Adiala for the night and to Kot Lakhpat on Tuesday.
As part of the sentence, the court also imposed a fine of Rs1.5 billion and Rs2.5 billion on Nawaz — a total of Rs5bn. A disqualification of 10 years from holding any public office is part of the sentences awarded to Nawaz and will go into effect following his release from jail after serving the seven-year sentence.
The reference pertains to the Sharifs being unable to justify the source of the funds provided to set up Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment in Saudi Arabia, making this a case of owning assets beyond means.
