Daily Times

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi was Saturday shifted from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail to Attock jail, a private TV channel reported.

The PML-N leader was shifted to Attock jail after a photo surfaced of him with Nawaz Sharif and others inside Adiala Jail before the former prime minister’s release.

Punjab Inspector General (IG) of Prisons had Thursday ordered an inquiry into the matter.

A notification issued from his office said, “As it is evident from media reports that at the time of release of NAB convicts, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Captain (r) Safdar and Maryam Nawaz on September 19, pictures of ANF prisoner Hanif Abbasi with Nawaz Sharif and others were taken and telecast on a number of TV channels as well as circulated on social media. ANF prisoner namely Hanif Abbasi was seen in the office of superintendent of Central Jail Rawalpindi, which caused adverse impression and bad name for the Prisons Department and the government of Punjab.”

The notification further said the competent authority had constituted an inquiry committee comprising DIG Prisons Malik Shaukat Feroze and AIG Judicial Malik Safdar Nawaz to probe the matter and find out how Abbasi was allowed to enter the Admin Block and office of the jail superintendent.

On July 22, Abbasi was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special anti-narcotics court in the ephedrine quota case.

Later during the day, Abbasi’s wife told media that the Punjab government and the PML-N leader’s political opponents will be responsible if anything happens to him. “No prisoner, including Abbasi, can visit the superintendent’s room out of his own will,” she said. “Shifting him to Attock jail is the worst example of political revenge,” she said.

She stated that the jailed PML-N leader suffers from heart ailment and has pollen allergy. “Doctors had suggested that he be kept in the jail hospital,” she said, while claiming that authorities are not even allowing that medicines be provided to Abbasi.

Published in Daily Times, September 23^rd 2018.