Health in custody: Moonis referred to hospital, refusing to go

PML-Q leader has been in FIA custody for over a month.

LAHORE:

The Punjab government gave permission for PML-Quaid leader Moonis Elahi, who is in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) custody being investigated for his alleged role in the Rs2.75 billion National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, to be given medical tests in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on Saturday.

However, the prisoner had not been taken to the hospital by late Saturday night, amidst reports that he was refusing to go. Elahi, son of former chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, has been confined in the National Database and Registration Authority rest house at 562, Zarrar Shaheed Road, under judicial remand since March 17, when the Lahore High Court declared it a sub jail.

On the advice of Dr Naveed, a consultant, the superintendent of Lahore district jail requested the home secretary to allow Elahi to be shifted to the PIC for a medical checkup since the facilities available in the jail hospital were insufficient. It was said that Elahi was unwell and a medical checkup was “urgently required from PIC”.

Home Secretary Shahid Khan, in accordance with Rule 197 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, allowed Elahi’s transfer to the hospital for tests. He directed the capital city police officer to provide security cover for the prisoner during his transfer and stay in the hospital. The police and inspector general of prisons were directed to send the prisoner back to jail immediately after completion of the medical investigation/tests on Saturday. However, Elahi had not been taken to the hospital by late on Saturday night.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2011.