Sharif: In solitary confinement

‘Yes you can say so’, former premier tells journalists as he is brought to court

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday briefly talked to journalists, when he was being taken back to Adiala Jail, after the court hearing in two more corruption references against him.

He said he was being kept in solitary confinement in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail and was not allowed to see or talk to anyone except on the day fixed for visitors.

The former premier was brought to the court under heavy security, and through the back door of the court.

At the front entrance of the building a large number of party workers and leaders were protesting against what they said was ‘inhuman treatment’ being meted out to the three-time prime minister of Pakistan.

They had even blocked an armoured vehicle of police thinking their leader was inside.

It was on his return from the court that journalists got a chance to interact with him briefly. Earlier, Sharif looked calm and quiet during the proceedings of the Al Azizia and Flagship references.

While coming out of the court, he didn’t talk much about his personal ordeal in the jail. He said he was in good health.

To a question if he was being kept in solitary confinement, the former PM replied, “yes you can say so”.

To yet another question whether he was allowed to go to Adiala Jail’s mosque for prisoners to offer his prayers, he said he was not allowed and therefore he offered his prayers inside the cell he was being kept.

Sharif said he was not allowed to see his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif who is also serving a seven-year term in the same jail. Her husband Capt Safdar is also there, serving a one-year sentence.

“I can see Maryam only on the day when visitors are allowed otherwise we are not allowed to see each other.”

Outside the court building, PML-N top leadership along with party workers staged a demonstration against what they said as ill-treatment by the government and jail authorities of their leader as if he were a terrorist.