LAHORE: PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has approached the Lahore High Court seeking a direction for Kot Lakhpat jail authorities to allow her to visit her jailed father former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at least twice a week along with his personal physician.

“Nawaz Sharif is about 70-year-old and suffering from multiple ailments including hypertension as well as serious heart and kidney diseases, which fact is duly established through multiple reports filed by standing medical boards before Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court as well,” states a petition filed by Ms Nawaz through advocates Azam Nazir Tarar and Amjad Pervez.

The Punjab chief secretary, additional chief secretary (home), inspector general of prisons and superintendent Kot Lakhpat central jail have been listed as respondents in the petition.

LHC senior puisne judge, Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh, will take up the petition on Friday (today).

Ms Nawaz pleads that since the incarceration of her father, she as well as his personal physician namely Dr Adnan Khan have regularly been visiting him as per schedule given by the respondents.

However, the petitioner states that she came to know through media that the chief secretary directed the other respondents to restrict visitation of Nawaz Sharif only to Thursday and that too available for few blood relations not exceeding five persons.

She submits that in view of the serious ailments Mr Sharif needs frequent contact with his physician but unfortunately for the last few weeks the jail authorities have not been allowing him to visit.

Ms Nawaz alleges that the respondents have been acting on the whims and wishes of the ruling party in the Centre and Punjab as well, which is evident from the venomous speeches of its senior leadership.

She pleads the law provides certain rights to accused and convicts including right to life but the case of her father has time and again been compromised by the respondents for ulterior motives.

She asks the court to order the respondents to allow her to see her father along with his personal physician at least twice a week to ensure his appropriate medical treatment.

Nawaz Sharif is undergoing seven years imprisonment awarded by an Islamabad accountability court in Al-Azizia reference.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2019