Former PM Abbasi withdraws application for better prison facilities.

Byline: Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD -- Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday withdrew an application seeking better prison facilities.

Mr Abbasi had moved the application under rules 245 and 248 of the Pakistan Prison Rules arguing that the non-provision of required facilities had affected his health, thereby violating articles 9, 10 and 14 of the Constitution.

He had sought a prescribed diet, a toaster and microwave oven, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a television, newspapers, books and a bed at his own expense.

However, when Mr Abbasi was produced before the accountability court by National Accountability Bureau prosecutors alongside former finance minister Miftah Ismail, he told accountability judge Mohammad Bashir that he did not require improved prison facilities and would rather stay with the rest of the inmate population.

Mr Abbasi is on judicial remand during the investigation of the LNG Terminal case.

He told the press outside the court that he wanted to surrender his right to better facilities because he did not want to bother the Punjab chief minister and the prime minister for B-Class facilities.

He said he withdrew his request because he decided 'not to create problems for them'.

At the outset of the hearing, Barrister Sadia Abbasi complained to the judge that Islamabad police had stopped Mr Abbasi's relatives from entering the courtroom even though they had prior permission from the court. Judge Bashir then directed security officials to allow in people whose names were on the approved list.

Mr Abbasi also told the judge that a medical board had recommended he undergo surgery. According to his...