RAWALPINDI: PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shahbaz, other family members and party leaders on Thursday visited Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz in Adiala Jail on Thursday.

The meeting was arranged by jail authorities in a conference room. Tight security arrangements were made inside and outside the jail for the meeting including the deployment of police force, Elite Force commandoes and personnel of other law enforcement agencies.

However, jail authorities did not allow anyone to meet with retired Capt Mohammad Safdar due to his bad health.

The visitors were allowed to go inside after a thorough check. The visitors included former Sindh governor Zubair Umer, ex-advisor to the prime minister Dr Musadiq Malik, former ministers Ameer Muqam, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Maryam Aurangzeb, Balighur Rehman, MPAs Malik Arshad, Mian Abdul Manan, Sumaira Komal, Aisha Rajab, Azma Bukhari, Malik Latif, Mehar Ghulam Fareed, Mian Latif, MNAs, local leader Daniyal Chaudhry, Dr Darshan, Rohail Sheikh and Asghar Naeem Butt.

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif was taken to an accountability court in Islamabad amid tight security. Extra traffic wardens were also deployed to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

After the hearing, the former prime minister was moved back to the jail. Sources said Shahbaz and Hamza Shahbaz arrived at the jail at about 4pm and met with the father and daughter for about an hour and a half.

A senior party leader told Dawn the detained Sharifs were told about the efforts for a joint presidential candidate and talks with other opposition parties. He said a strategy was chalked out for the role of the opposition in the national and Punjab assemblies.

He said Nawaz Sharif wanted to take on other political parties on a one-point agenda of election rigging.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2018