RAWALPINDI: Friends, family and a large number of PML-N leaders visited Adiala jail on Friday to meet with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

The former premier’s mother, Shamim Sharif, his brother and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, nephews Hamza Shahbaz and Salman Shahbaz and other family members had visited the jail on Wednesday.

The meeting was arranged by the jail authorities after special permission from the Punjab Home Department.

Permission to meet on Thursday was rescinded due to holidays

On Friday, family members and party leaders were also granted permission to meet with Sharif and Maryam.

The meeting was initially scheduled for Thursday but was changed to the next day due to Eid holidays.

The meeting was held in a conference room next to the office of the Adiala jail superintendent.

Police, jail staff and personnel from other law enforcement agencies had made tight security arrangements inside and outside the jail for the occasion.

Those who had permission were only allowed to enter the jail from Gate 5 after thorough checking by jail staffers, headed by Deputy Superintendent Shahzad Bukhari.

The family members who met with the Sharifs include Aziz Abbas, Sarah Abbas, Mrs Abbas Sharif, Salma Abbas Sharif, Ismail, Junaid Safdar and Mehrunissa – the children of Maryam Nawaz – and her son-in-law Raheel Munir.

Former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq, senators Pervaiz Rashid, Chaudhry Tanveer Ali Khan, Raja Zafarul Haq, retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, Dr Ghaus Mohammad Niazi, former defence minister Khawaja Asif, former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, former MNAs Malik Abrar Ahmed, Khurram Dastagir Khan, Talal Chaudhry, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, MPAs Mohammad Arshad Malik of Sahiwal, Ghazali Saleem Butt, AJK MLA Sehrish Qamar, Sardar Mumtaz of Paswal, Chaudhry Munir Ahmed and Marghoob Ahmed also met the former premier and his daughter.

However, Lahore Deputy Mayor Mian Mohammad Arif, former MPA Raja Awais Khalid from Sohawa and others were not allowed to meet with the Sharifs.

Former information minister Pervaiz Rashid told mediapersons outside the jail and that the government had not allowed friends and family to meet with Mohammad Hanif Abbasi and retired Capt Mohammad Safdar on the eve of Eid in hospital and that they were also creating hindrances in the way of people who want to meet Nawaz and Maryam.

Asked why Nawaz Sharif had refused to meet former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Mr Rashid said Mr Nisar can clarify that himself and that the people had rejected Chaudhry Nisar in the recent general elections.

A large number of PML-N workers and supporters, including Salaar Islam Raja, the son of detained party leader Qamarul Islam Raja, held a protest demonstration outside the jail and demanded the early release of the Sharifs.

They also chanted slogans against the incumbent prime minister.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2018