Bilawal meets ailing Nawaz Sharif in Lahore jail

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Kot Lakhpat jail on Monday.

After meeting the ailing former prime minister, Bilawal informed that no settlement has been made so far for Sharif to leave the country for medical treatment.

In response to a question regarding Sharif seeking to go abroad, Geo News quoted Bhutto, as saying, "I got no impression or inkling that a deal has been made. Mian Sb is upholding his principles and did not appear to be willing to make a compromise."

"Mian Sb said he is ideological and wants to do ideological politics," he added, "My father spent 11 and a half years in jail and each time it was said that a deal has been struck with former president Pervez Musharraf."

During his visit, Bilawal was accompanied by senior party leaders, including Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mustafa Khokhar, Hassan Murtaza and Jameel Soomro.

Last week, Kaira had submitted a request to the Punjab Home Ministry on behalf of Bilawal to meet the ailing former Prime Minister, who has been serving seven years of prison sentence since December 2018, and to inquire about his failing health.

"Today, I visited Mian Sb at Kot Lakhpat jail to inquire about his health. It is a historic day for me today as Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, PPP leaders and workers were imprisoned in this jail," Bilawal said after holding an hour-long meeting with Sharif.

"Mian Sb has served as prime minister thrice and there are political differences but I feel our cultural values and religion teach us to look after an ailing Muslim. I request on behalf of the PPP that Mian Sb is given the best medical treatment and whatever treatment he has been demanding. I hope the prime minister and his government think on humanitarian grounds," he added.

Citing inadequate availability of medical facilities in jail, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members, in February, had requested the Punjab Assembly secretariat to grant permission to the three-time Prime Minister to go abroad for his medical treatment.