LAHORE – The PTI government in Punjab province has directed the jail authorities to remove the air conditioner from the cell of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif following the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“The following directions of Prime Minister have been intimated for implementation and report. No preferential treatment be given to the criminals and money launders in the prison in Punjab,” stated a letter written by Punjab Home Department to the inspector general of the prison on July 17.
It came after PM Khan while addressing the Pakistani community in the US on Sunday announced to withdraw the facilities of air conditioners and televisions from jailed politicians including Nawaz Sharif, who is imprisoned in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail, as well as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
“Nawaz Sharif wants food from home in jail, he wants air conditioning in jail. But in a country where half the population has no air conditioning or TV, what kind of punishment would this be?,” said Imran Khan on July 21, while addressing Pakistani diaspora during his three-day visit to the United States.
“I am going to go back and make sure there is no air conditioning or TV for Nawaz Sharif who is a criminal. I know (PML-N leader) Maryam Bibi will make some noise, but I say to her, return the money. It’s as simple as that,” he added.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/will-remove-tv-ac-facilities-for-jailed-nawaz-zardari-pm-imran/
The move solely aims to put more pressure on the opposition leaders to admit corruption and surrender the money “plundered from public” to fill in the national exchequer.
Sharif’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, which is being led by his daughter Maryam Nawaz and brother Shehbaz Sharif has warned it would be equivalent to putting the ex-premier’s life in danger.
The 69-year-old politician was convicted in the Al Azizia Steel Mills case and sentenced to seven years in jail.
According to PML-N, a team of doctors that examined Nawaz on July 3 advised in their report that his room temperature should be maintained at a comfortable level to prevent dehydration and the possible deterioration of his renal function.
Maryam Nawaz, who is the vice-President of PML-N, also attacked Imran Khan and said this move shows “shallowness” of the prime minister.
The ruling party, on the other hand, says it believes in justice for all and protecting rights of all prisoners.
PTI supporters hope this is what will give Pakistani taxpayers a sense of feeling that their money is being spent fairly among all kinds of inmates – no special perks for political prisoners.
