Former president Asif Ali Zardari was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for medical checkup on Tuesday after appearing before the Accountability Court along with his sister Faryal Talpur in connection with the mega money laundering and Park Lane cases. Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Zardari was shifted to cardiac center of PIMS for treatment and tests on the recommendations of medical board. The district administration has declared PIMS's cardiac center as a sub-jail, sources said.
Earlier, Zardari, Talpur and other accused were produced before the Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir on expiry of their judicial remand. The judge marked attendance of all the accused and adjourned the hearing till November 12. Both Zardari and Talpur were brought from Adiala Jail in separate armored personnel carrier (APC) vehicles. The hospital sources said that four-member team is headed by Dr Shajee Siddiqui and other members of the team include Dr Naeem Malik, Dr Aamir Shah and Dr Zulfiqar Ghauri. The team conducted different medical tests of Zardari including sugar, blood pressure, ECG and x-ray, sources added.
Earlier, during the hearing, defense counsel Sardar Latif Khosa told the court that in the previous hearing, the court had issued order about provision of facilities to his client in jail. The court had ordered to implement recommendations of medical board, he said, adding that despite recommendations of medical board, the jail authorities have not shifted Zardari to hospital.
Khosa requested the court to order provision of personal assistant to Zardari. Objecting to the Khosa's request, the NAB prosecutor said whether personal assistant can be provided to a prisoner in jail. This cannot happen that somebody from outside is brought to jail to provide services to any prisoner, he said. The court reserved its verdict on the petition, seeking provision of facilities to Zardari.
While talking to media persons after the hearing, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that his party and family are very worried over the health conditions of the former president. He demanded to shift his father to hospital on immediate basis. "The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is using Zardari's health to pressurize the PPP," he said, adding that his party will not come under any pressure and face the "puppet government."
He said that despite the court orders, no medical facilities are being provided to his father. The PPP has launched countrywide anti-government campaign and will hold a public rally at Tharparkar October 23 (today), he said. Replying to a question about Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl's Azadi March, he said, "We support Maulana Fazlur Rehman's march politically and morally. Protest is the democratic right of every citizen and the government should not deny any citizen of his democratic right to organize or take part in peaceful protests."
He said, "Prime Minister Imran Khan during his speech stated that those intending to agitate are free to take to the streets and stage a sit-in and we will provide them with a shipping container as well as food. PM Khan needs to fulfill his promise and facilitate Azadi March instead of creating hurdles in its way."
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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