‘Specialised cook, and a space to walk: Nawaz enjoying ‘better class’ facilities at Jail

LAHORE: Defying reports of abysmal condition in the prison for PML-N supremo, the caretaker Punjab government says deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif is being provided with all facilities at the jail for which he is entitled to.

Caretaker Information Minister Ahmed Waqas Riaz informed journalists during a press briefing that the former premier was shifted to the jail on July 13 and was assigned ‘Better Class’ category of the prison the next day, July 14,” the minister said.

He made the justification in an apparent response to a letter written to the government by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif three days ago seeking better facilities for his elder brother.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Prisons Malik Mubashir maintained that Nawaz was provided ‘Better Class’ facilities by the Punjab government on July 14 after the former prime minister submitted an application to this effect.

Being a ‘Better Class’ prisoner, Nawaz has been provided with the following facilities: the option to obtain his personal clothes, bed, mattress, shoes, table, chair, a 21-inch television, radio, toiletries, newspapers and other similar items at his own expense.

He has been jailed in a separate cell in a ‘Better Class’ portion of the jail. In his room, he has been issued a steel bed, table, chair, newspapers, sheets for his personal bed, personal clothes, one ceiling fan, two bracket fans and toiletries.

“He has also been allowed to keep a 21-inch TV. He has been provided adequate space to take a walk and he ‘regularly goes for a stroll in the lawn attached to his cell.”

It doesn’t just end, the minister says a specialised cook has been providing the diet recommended for him by an RIC nutritionist. The recommended diet that he is provided includes fruits, salad, dates and minced meat.