'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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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
