LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday directed the prisons authorities to provide all facilities to former defence minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif he was legally entitled to have in the jail.

Presiding Judge Jawadul Hassan issued the direction, announcing the verdict on an application filed by Mr Asif, seeking facilities of better class in the jail.

The Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent, in his reply, had told the court that the applicant had been kept in a cell separate from other inmates. He said the under-trial prisoner had already been provided a television set, newspaper, a table and a mattress in the cell.

The judge further directed the jail superintendent to allow the former minister to get medically examined by his personal doctors.

The superintendent was also directed to permit Mr Asif to have home-cooked food and a room-heater in the jail.

Mr Asif is on judicial remand in an inquiry into his alleged illegal assets initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Mr Asif, through a counsel, had contended that he was a former federal minister and sitting member of the National Assembly. The counsel said the applicant was also a law graduate. He said the applicant was entitled to the better jail class.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2021