Farooq Haider, Mehmood Khan Achakzai barred from meeting Nawaz in jail

Authorities cite no reason for denying the meeting

RAWALPINDI: In an interesting development, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai were barred from meeting Nawaz Sharif in Adiala jail.

Friends and family of the former prime minister were allowed to meet him on the visiting day in Adiala, however, Haider and Achakzai were denied permission to meet Nawaz.

The authorities cited no reason for denying the meeting but it was stated that the former prime minister, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar were only meeting people on the list they had earlier provided the jail authorities.

Speaking to the media outside the jail, Achakzai slammed the jail authorities and said he was a citizen of the country and should be permitted to meet the former premier.

According to Express News, meetings scheduled for the day are to take place in the jail's conference room. Gate number five of the jail has been reserved for parking.

In addition, strict security measures have been installed inside and outside the premises. Besides family members, numerous political leaders and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) workers have expressed their wish to meet Nawaz.