Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was sent to jail on judicial remand by Accountability Court in the liquefied natural gas case, filed an application Friday before the court, seeking better facilities in prison citing health reasons.
While hearing the case, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir issued notice to the jail superintendent and sought his reply. Abbasi filed the application through his counsel and sister Sadia Abbasi before the court.
She claimed that despite the court orders, Abbasi was not being provided facilities in jail.
In the application, she adopted the stance that accused Abbasi has an inflamed gallbladder (chronic condition) due to which he is subjected to intermittent episodes of infection treated through intravenous antibiotic therapy. His medical conditions are managed through a severely restricted dietary intake as his body is resistant to oral medical treatment, it said.
According to the application, his health condition is aggravated in stressful condition, and he needs a comfortable environment. Thus, the applicant deserves to be provided separate custody and special provision for home-cooked meal, inverter air conditioner, a refrigerator, tea kettle, television, toaster, oven, cooking utensils, microwave oven, mosquito light, stove oven, torch, pedestal fan, UPS, bed chair, table, bedding, radio, PC/tab with printer, private use items, access to two helpers form jail (this facility was allowed to him in Malir Jail, Karachi, in 1999), newspapers, books and journals, etc, at his own expenses.
It said that the applicant served a jail term from 1999 to 2001 (never convicted, and then incarcerated under the MPO provisions) under the martial law regime of General Pervez Musharraf (retd) at Malir jail, Karachi and he was provided all the abovementioned facilities, regular meetings to/with his incarcerated colleagues, lawyers, family members, friends, and permission to avail private time for exercise.
The application also mentioned the names of immediate blood relatives (family members of Abbasi and household staff) for meeting him including his wife Samina Shahid, his son and daughter-in-law Abdullah Abbasi and Maryam, his son and daughter-in-law Haider Abbasi and Minhall, son Nader Abbasi, brother-in-law Dr Abid Riaz, sister Sadia Abbasi, nephew Qasim Jehanzeb Khan, cousin Akeer Abbasi and some other relatives and household staff.
He also requested to allow him to meet lawyers including Sadia Abbasi and any other legal consultant as required by the applicant whose name will be provided to the jail authorities before the meeting and meeting with other relatives and friends as per the jail rules.
The court sought reply from jail superintendent and adjourned the hearing till September 30.