AC seeks report about facilities, being provided to Zardari

ISLAMABAD: An Accountability court (AC) on Tuesday in a contempt of court, has sought  report from Adiala jail authorities about the facilities being provided to former president Asif Ali Zardari at jail till Wednesday.

The AC duty judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan was listening to the petition,  filed by Asif Zardari seeking contempt of court proceedings against Adial jail administration for non-provision of air-conditioning facility.

At the outset of hearing, the petitioner’s counsel Sardar Latif Khosa pleaded  that his client was not given facilities of air-conditioner despite court orders  for provision of “Better Class” in jail.

He said that jail administration was not complying with the court orders. He said that his client would bear the expenditures of these facilities on  his own.

Khosa pleaded that Zardari was also given facilities in jail in 1999 and  he was Senator at that time.

The Judge asked either the facilities were given at that time, were from  the state or at his own which the Khosa replied that such facilities were  from the state.

Khosa contended before the court that his client was a former president  and currently was a member Parliament, and said the Constitution allowed  him extra facilities for life time.    The former president was suffering from cardiac problems and such attitude  by the jail administration may create further problems for him, he argued.

The NAB prosecutor Usman Mirza contended before the court that provision  of air-conditioning facility was not included in the court orders.    The jail representative ASP Adeel said that approval had been sought from  Home Secretary for provision of air-conditioning facility and would be installed  as soon as the permission was granted.

The court sought complete report from jail administration about the facilities  being provided to Zardari till Wednesday and adjourned the hearing.