Adiala jail superintendent denies PTI claims of Imran Khan’s facilities withdrawn

RAWALPINDI: The Adiala jail administration on Friday refuted the claims about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's facilities withdrawn in the prison, as the party asserted that founder was facing difficulties owing to inadequate amenities.

Khan had access to all the facilities listed in the jail manual, with special consideration given to his security and health condition, according to the superintendent of Central Jail Rawalpindi, also known as the Adiala jail.

"One English newspaper is sent to the PTI founder every day. To stay in shape, he has a place to walk and an exercise machine," he remarked.

The jail official added that the former prime minister and his incarcerated spouse, Bushra Bibi, had been allocated a separate kitchen, while prison staff was present 24/7 for his security.

The Adiala jail superintendent said books were also available for him to read.

The official repudiated the report about an open sewer in Khan’s cell and rats in Bushra Bibi’s cell, saying: "There is no veracity in the news of an open sewer in Khan’s cell or rats in Bushra’s."

The official said the PTI founder was allowed to meet family, lawyers as well as hold political meetings twice a week. Also on the occasion of case hearings the PTI founder met those who attended the hearings in the jail, the official maintained.

The jail official said Khan also had the facility of television in his prison cell.

The jail's stance comes in the wake of claims made by PTI Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif who relayed media about a spectrum of "facilities" his leader is being deprived of. The senator said he called on Khan at the prison and found he was encountering adversities there.

The PTI founder was not given the facilities that President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif enjoyed during their respective jail terms, he maintained.

“The PTI founder is suffering from ear pain. He’s not being provided an electric toothbrush and a dumbbell for exercise,” he said.

Saif said the ex-premier was not being allowed to talk to his sons as well over the phone.

He conveyed the workers' sentiments to the PTI supremo, saying that they were dejected after the August 22 public rally was postponed abruptly.

The PTI founder directed him to make the party leaders sit down and resolve grievances, he said.