Bilawal says govt would be responsible if something happened to Asif Zardari
The Pakistani state continues to try and use my fathers ailing health to pressure my party: Bilawal
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bialwal Bhutto Zardari said this government would be responsible if something happened to his father and former president Asif Zardari in jail.
Bilawal in his tweeter message wrote “The Pakistani state continues to try and use my father’s ailing health to pressure my party.”
He said despite being detained without being convicted of anything since August, Asif Zardari is still to receive medical care.
Bilawal further said despite multiple medical reports from the governments own doctor that he should be provided with medical facilities in prison and shifted to hospital for investigation and treatment he has been denied his fundamental rights.
He added that not only has he not been taken to hospital he has still not been provided with a fridge to keep his insulin and medicine.
PPP leader continued that if anything was, God forbid, to happen to my father we will hold this government responsible, adding that despite these tactics we will not compromise on our principles or democratic politics.
Earlier, an accountability court rejected a petition filed by former president Asif Ali Zardari, who has been put in jail on judicial remand, seeking his shift to a hospital for medical care.
The court remarked that the court doesn’t have jurisdiction over the matter, and it should be referred to the relevant forum.
Yesterday, Judge Muhammad Bashir reserved a verdict in the same application after hearing arguments from Zardari’s advocate Latif Khosa.
Khosa argued before the court that his client’s life was in danger and it was his Constitutional right to avail medical facilities in the jail.
“Zardari doesn’t want anything from this government, but his legal rights must be ensured […] we hadn’t asked for an apology from even Zia-ul-Haq,” he said.
“Judicial relief is our right […] if Zardari suffers any kind of heart ailment, these people wont transfer him to a hospital […] it takes an hour-and-a-half to reach a hospital from the Adiala Jail,” he mentioned.
“A medial board had recommended shifting Zardari to PIMS for getting medical care and these people took him to the hospital just for a day and shifted him back to the jail on the very next day,” he further informed the court.
Khosa pleaded with the court to direct authorities to allow Zardari his personal attendant until he stays in his prison. “Our people will set up tents in front of the jail,” he warned.
