'Take me out of here; I don't want to remain in jail':Imran Khan tells lawyers
Islamabad (PTI): Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has told his lawyers to take him out from the Attock jail as he does not want to remain in a cell that is infested with flies during the day and insects at night.
Khan, charged with corruption in the Toshakhana case and sentenced to three years, is unhappy and worried as he remains holed up in his prison cell.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was arrested on Saturday shortly after an Islamabad trial court found him guilty of "corrupt practices" in the case.
Khan has appealed his conviction by filing a plea at the Islamabad High Court.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman has asked his legal team that he does not wish to remain in prison, Geo News quoted sources in the Attock jail privy to the meeting between Khan and his lawyer as saying.
"Take me out of here; I don't want to remain in jail," the officials quoted Khan, as saying.
Khan's counsel Naeem Haider Panjotha was granted access by the jail authorities Monday to meet him, who after seeing the PTI chairman said that the former premier was being kept in "distressing" conditions provided "C-Class jail facilities".
Panjotha said that Khan was in high morale despite all such difficulties and vowed to spend his lifetime in jail but wouldn't bow to slavery.
However, the sources said that the PTI chairman, during the meeting with his lawyer, conveyed his concerns regarding the environment at the prison with flies taking over his cell during the day and insects at night.
The former prime minister was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore after being convicted with accusations of misusing his 2018 to 2022 premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than Rs 140 million (USD 635,000).
Khan denies the allegations against him.
The party of the former prime minister, who was ousted from office after a no-confidence motion was moved against him in April 2022, has moved the Supreme Court against the trial court's order, seeking to declare Judge Dilawar's verdict "null and void".
The PTI has also approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq requesting Khan's transfer from Attock jail to Adiala jail.
Khan was earlier arrested on May 9 in Islamabad from the high court's premises in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, sparking violent protests by his supporters. He was released later.
Khan faces more than 140 cases across the country and charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder.
Meanwhile, the administration of Attock Jail has decided to conduct a security audit of all the staffers after an alleged "coded conversation" took place between a jail official and Khan, Geo News reported.
The recording of the jail official's conversation with Khan has revealed some words the administration is unable to understand.
The complete biodata of more than 150 prison staff in Attock jail will be sent to the Special Branch and other institutions for security clearance.
The sources said that the use of WhatsApp by the jail staff has been banned after geofencing.
Built-in 1906, the number of prisoners in the jail is usually more than 1,000.
However, there are currently more than 700 prisoners in the jail and they have only C-class facilities.
The sources said that in view of security concerns, a plan to transfer more than 100 prisoners to Adiala and other jails is also under consideration.
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Chandrashekhar Swamiji apologises for remark on denying voting rights to Muslims
"If my statement has upset our Muslim brothers, I deeply regret it."
Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."
In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.
The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."
The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
