The Accountability Court hearing the multibillion rupees fake bank accounts case on Tuesday ordered jail authorities to inform it about facilities provided to former president Asif Ali Zardari as well as a letter written to home secretary Punjab for provision of facility of air-conditioning to the accused in jail.
Duty Judge Accountability Court Raja Jawad Hussain was hearing the former president's petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against the jail authorities for non-provision of 'Better Class' to him. 'Better Class' allows a suspect to avail additional facilities including air conditioner, fridge, television and newspaper, etc, at his/her own expenses.
Defence counsel Sardar Latif Khosa told the court that the same facilities were also provided to his client in 1999 when he was a senator. Now he is a former president and jail authorities have not provided him air conditioner despite court's order, he said.
When the judge asked if he (Zardari) had availed these facilities at his own expenses, Khosa replied that in 1999 these facilities were provided to Zardari by the government.
He said that provision of air conditioner to Zardari has not been mentioned clearly but the provision of the same facility is not prohibited. Zardari is suffering from heart problem, he added.
Khosa said that an attendant should also be provided to Zardari to inform him about the timing of medicines. Prosecutor National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Usman Mirza said that attendant is available in jail and he will take care of him.
The assistant superintendent of police (jail) told the court, "We are in contact with the home secretary about the provision of facility of air conditioner and as soon as we are allowed, air conditioner will be provided to Mr Zardari."
The court sought details of communication made with the home secretary regarding provision of air conditioning facility. The court also asked the jail authorities to provide details of facilities provided to Zardari in jail on the next hearing to be held today (Wednesday).
Comments
Comments are closed.