Court wants to know about law on visiting inmates

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday directed a provincial law officer to apprise it about whether the law permitted twice-a-week meeting with an inmate.

Acting Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh was hearing a petition of PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz seeking permission to visit her jailed father former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at least twice a week along with his personal physician.

Maryam’s counsel argued that since the incarceration of the petitioner’s father, she as well as his personal physician namely Dr Adnan Khan had regularly been visiting him as per schedule given by the respondents.

However, he said in view of serious ailments Mr Sharif needed a regular contact with his physician but unfortunately for the last few weeks the jail authorities had not been allowing him to visit.

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

The government law officer told the court that the law did not allow any inmate to meet with his/her personal physician. He said three specialist doctors were available to the petitioner’s father in the jail.

Justice Sheikh asked the law officer to submit a detail reply to the petition and also apprise about the relevant law governing the meetings with the prisoners. The judge would resume hearing on Tuesday (today).

The former premier is currently serving seven-year imprisonment at Kot Lakhpat central jail. An Islamabad accountability court had convicted him in Al-Azizia reference made by the NAB.