ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his dismay regarding the law on production orders and tasked the Ministry of Law and Justice with redrafting it for consideration of parliament.
Addressing the federal cabinet in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said production orders for the members of parliament involved in embezzlement and corruption related cases should not be issued.
The premier highlighted that in ‘Naya Pakistan’ all prisoners should be given equal treatment and no one should receive preferential treatment during confinement.
“Those involved in corruption-related cases cannot be termed as political prisoners, hence, their production orders should not be issued,” the premier said, and added that such prisoners do not deserve any kind of concession.
The remarks came a day after the premier shared that he would direct the law ministry to put an end to VIP class in jails.
The issue of production orders has become a bone of contention between the treasury and opposition benches as most of the political rivals of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are behind bars including former president Asif Ali Zardari.
Last month, opposition parties including PPP and PML-N alleged that the prime minister had directed the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser not to issue the production orders for Asif Ali Zardari and other MNAs during the post-budget session, however, production orders for Zardari were later issued.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique have been attending the sessions of National and provincial assembly respectively on production orders.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif had also addressed the lawmakers on production orders prior to his bail by the Lahore High Court.
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shehbaz also attends the assembly sessions on production orders issued by Speaker Punjab Assembly, Pervez Elahi.
The lawmakers from the opposition are not the sole beneficiary of production orders as PTI’s Aleem Khan had also attended Punjab Assembly sessions after he was taken into custody by the National Accountability Bureau.
