Better class facilities provided to Zardari, AC informed

Adiala Jail authorities Wednesday informed the Accountability Court that an LCD television, newspaper, journals and books have been provided to former president Asif Ali Zardari and they have written a letter to home department Punjab regarding provision of air-conditioning facility to him as, according to Pakistan Prisoner Rules (PPR) 1978, jail would not be furnished with an air-conditioner.
Superintendent Adiala Jail Adeel submitted these details about facilities provided to Zardari in jail following the directives of Accountability Court Duty Judge Raja Jawad Hussain.
As per the report submitted by the jail superintendent, Better Class facilities have been provided to Zardari according to PPR Rules 1978. As per rules 261 of PPR 1978, the Better Class prisoner may subject to reasonable limits including wearing their own clothes and arranging their own bed/mattress, shoes, table (maximum limit 24 inches), chair, television (maximum 21 inch screen), radio, toiletries, newspaper and other such accessories at their own expense; however, the government will not bear any expenditure on the provision of any facility to a Better Class prisoner other than those to which any ordinary class prisoner is entitled.
It said that the under-trial prisoner was examined by medical board on August 21. According to the report of said medical board, he was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 29 for further medical check-up.
On August 30, he was discharged from the PIMS. As per reports and discharge slip, the medical board has advised medication and physiotherapy, which are being provided to him. "No further measures are advised to be taken by the medical board and which is why air-conditioning facility has not been provided; however, this office has requested vide letter No 29151 on August 23 to the government of Punjab law department for legal advice regarding provision of air conditioning facility," it said. However, necessary legal advice/sanction from the government has yet not been received in the office.
The report said that the jail authorities provided an LCD television, newspaper, journals, books and physiotherapy chair to Zardari. At per report of medical officer jail, a physiotherapy technician from the PIMS has also started visiting the said accused on daily basis. Two ice boxes have been provided in order to store the medicine as per prescription of medical officer. Monitoring person from outside jail is not permissible as per PPR Rules 1978. As per medical report of medical officer jail, the medical staff is deputed round the clock to monitor his blood and sugar levels. As far as his food and other necessities are concerned, the jail officials are deputed round the clock to provide him food and other necessities.
Earlier, Accountability Court while hearing the former president's petition seeking the contempt of court proceedings against the jail authorities for non-provision of 'Better Class' to him adjourned its hearing till September 5.