December 9, 2003	Tuesday	Shawwal 14, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: District and sessions judge Chaudhry Asad Raza on Monday granted A-class to the acting president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, in the Adyala jail.

Initiating the proceedings in the mutiny case against Mr Hashmi, the court directed the government to provide the copies of the charge-sheet submitted by the prosecution, the FIR, the letter which he distributed in a press conference, the statements of the witnesses and all relevant documents.

The PML-N leader, who was presented in the court amidst tight security after the expiry of his 14-day remand, told the judge that he had been housed in a place worst than C-class, with inmates who were released recently from Guantanamo Bay. The place had no medical facilities, he said.

The court had directed the jail authorities to submit a detailed report on the application of Mr Hashmi, in which he had sought A-class.

Defence counsels Zafar Ali Shah and Hashmat Habib told Dawn that no such report was filed by the jail authorities when the court initiated proceedings.

They met Mr Hashmi briefly with PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq under the directions of the court.

The court has also granted permission to the defence counsel to meet Mr Hashmi on Thursday in the jail.

The court adjourned the proceedings for Dec 16, when charges would be framed against Mr Hashmi.