Facilities in jail: AC reserves judgement in Khaqan's plea

The Accountability Court hearing the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) case Friday reserved its judgment over a petition filed by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, seeking facilities at Adiala Jail.

Hearing the case, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir reserved the verdict. Abbasi filed the application through his counsel and sister Sadia Abbasi before the court. Sadia and Barrister Zafarullah Khan argued before the court over Abbasi's application.

The same court sent Abbasi and former finance minister Miftah Ismail to jail on September 26 on judicial remand. Abbasi was arrested by the NAB in Lahore on July 18 in connection with the LNG case.

During the hearing, the officials of Adiala Jail submitted a medical report of the former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. They said that the jail authorities have decided to conduct medical tests of Abbasi.

On this, Sadia Abbasi pleaded the court that her client wants to undergo medical tests from a hospital of his own choice. During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor opposed provision of a laptop to Abbasi in prison.

The court after hearing arguments of both the prosecution and defense reserved its judgment.

Meanwhile, the same court approved PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb's application, seeking permission to meet Abbasi in jail. The court ordered jail authorities to allow meeting of Abbasi and Marriyum.

During the previous hearing, Marriyum said that she met Abbasi during the custody of NAB following the court's order. While addressing Marriyum, the judge asked what if Abbasi did not want to meet her. She replied, "Sir if you give permission then we will entreat him."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019