RAWALPINDI/LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired captain Mohammad Safdar were shifted to Adiala jail amid tight security after being flown back to Rawalpindi from Lahore on Monday evening at the end of their five-day parole.

PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif accompanied the Sharifs on the plane, which landed at Benazir Bhutto International Airport at about 3.45pm, after his elder brother reportedly turned down his request for seeking extension in the parole till the chehlum of Begum Kulsoom.

The Sharifs, who had been sent to jail weeks before the general elections by an accountability court of Islamabad in the Avenfield properties reference, were released on parole after Begum Kulsoom’s death in London on Sept 11.

Besides Mr Shahbaz, a deputy superintendent of police and a police inspector responsible for the security of the ousted prime minister, his daughter and son-in-law also travelled along with them to Rawalpindi. From the airport, they were driven to Adiala jail amid tight security while the PML-N president saw them off at the prison gate.

Shahbaz sees Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar off at prison gate

Soon after reaching back, the three prisoners were examined by doctors and were found medically fit, sources said.

Whenever prisoners or under-trial prisoners are shifted to jail, they have to undergo a medical examination to ensure their good health, according to the sources.

In July, Nawaz Sharif was sentenced by the accountability court to 10-year imprisonment in the NAB reference (20/2017), Maryam Nawaz to seven-year imprisonment and retired Capt Safdar to two-year imprisonment.

Last Wednesday the Sharifs were released on 12-hour parole, which was later extended for five days by the Punjab government on an application of Mr Shahbaz, who signed it when the former prime minister refused to seek five-day extension in the parole.

The sources said this time again the PML-N supremo turned down his brother’s request for another extension in the parole and was finally shifted back to jail serve out the prison term.

“Shahbaz Sharif’s efforts to get extension in their parole could not bear fruit, as he failed to convince Nawaz Sharif in this regard,” a source said.

As many as 32 Elite Force commandos, three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), three inspectors and three lady police officers of Rawalpindi police were sent to Lahore to assist the Punjab police to provide security to the Sharifs as they were allowed to attend the funeral of Begum Kulsoom, 68, who died of lymphoma (throat cancer) in London. Begum Kulsoom, wife of the former premier, was later laid to rest at Jati Umra.

Before leaving for Rawalpindi, sources said, the Sharifs offered fateha at the graves of Begum Kulsoom, Mian Sharif and Abbas Sharif. The former prime minister also met his mother before proceeding to Lahore airport.

Some PML-N workers also gathered outside Jati Umra to express solidarity with Nawaz Sharif and chanted slogans ‘give justice to Nawaz Sharif’.

During their stay at Jati Umra, the Sharifs were not allowed to leave the place specified in the permission order as police escort was responsible for their safety and security till their readmission to the prison.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2018