Nawaz Sharif set to return to jail as 6-week bail expires
Lahore: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to Kot Lakhpat Jail here on Tuesday following the expiry of his six-week bail in a corruption case in which he has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
The three-time former premier is expected to surrender himself to jail authorities in evening after Iftar and will arrive at the prison in a PML(N) workers' rally, which will be led by his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
Sharif, 69, was granted six-week interim bail by the top court on March 26 in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case to undergo medical treatment and he filed the petition on April 27 for permanent bail stating that he was suffering from acute anxiety and depression.
The bail expired Tuesday as the Supreme court rejected his review petition seeking extension in the bail granted to him on medical grounds. The court also rejected the former premier's plea to allow him to travel abroad for treatment.
"Nawaz Sharif will return to Kot Lakhpat Jial Lahore on Tuesday in a procession of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers. A call has been given to the workers to gather at the Jati Umra residence of Sharif to march towards the jail along with him," PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb told PTI on Monday. She said the PML-N workers are eager to come to roads against Prime Minister Imran Khan's anti-people policies and they are waiting a call from the leadership.
Aurangzeb said that Maryam will accompany her father, and will be present in his car. The party has decided that she will remain with her father until he is taken into custody by the jail authorities.
The Home Department Punjab earlier instructed Sharif to reach Kot Lakhpat Jail by 5 pm on Tuesday, and said his arrival in the form of a rally would be against the law.
Protesting against the instructions, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah told Geo News that Sharif's bail is valid till the midnight of May 7, and questioned why he should have to reach the jail anytime before that.
Sharif, three-time prime minister, has been serving a seven-year prison term at the jail since December 24, 2018 when an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed in the wake of the apex court's July 28, 2017 order in Panama Papers case. He was imprisoned in Adiyala Jail and shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail on his request
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Yenepoya University conducts autism awareness campaign in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The Department of Occupational Therapy at Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) conducted a community-based Autism Awareness Campaign at Fiza Mall and Ullal Beach in the city.
The campaign was aimed at promoting awareness, inclusion, and early identification of autism, in line with the global theme, “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value.”
The programme was led by Dr. Dhayanithi K and Dr. Ananya Jana as organising chairpersons, with Dr. Anas, Dr. Amanda S. Phillip, and Dr. Ansu V. David served as organising members.
Students of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) programme participated in conducting the campaign.
The event included activities such as flash mobs, street plays, face painting, mehendi, and direct interaction with the public.
These activities focused on highlighting early signs of autism, the need for early intervention, and the importance of inclusion and acceptance of individuals with autism.
The campaign reached around 300 to 500 members of the public. It also provided students with practical exposure to community-based rehabilitation and public health education.
As part of the initiative, QR-based digital resources were introduced to help the public access reliable information on autism.
“Awareness is the first step towards inclusion, and early intervention can significantly improve outcomes,” the organising team said.
The department thanked the university for its support in organising the campaign. It also acknowledged the cooperation of the management of Fiza Mall and the Ullal Beach Police Department in facilitating the event.
