'Fed Rat-contaminated Food' In Lahore Jail, Alleges Maryam Nawaz

Maryam Nawaz, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, on Thursday alleged that the federal government (led by Imran Khan) had forced her to consume "rat-contaminated food" in jail. She was arrested in connection with a money laundering case last year and was sent to the Punjab capital's Kot Lakhpat Jail. Earlier, she had also alleged that the jail authorities had installed cameras in her cell as well as in the bathroom.

'Forced to take fungus-infected medicines'

According to Geo News, Nawaz also revealed that the medication given to her was "not fit for use at all". The PML-N vice President claimed that she was "forced to take fungus-infected medicines in prison," as per a report by ANI.

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Further talking about how a woman is treated in her country Pakistan, the 47-year-old politician said, "I have gone to jail twice and if I speak about how I, a woman, was treated in jail, they will not have the audacity to show their faces," referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government's current measures.

Khan's advisor denies allegations

Adviser to the Prime Minister Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior, Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar denied Nawaz's allegations. He said, "This woman's food always came from home." Akbar added, "So either the rat belonged to the family or they are lying according to the 'family tradition'. By the way, these rats seem to be quite 'Sharif' that they leave food behind."

"With the state the country is in right now, the government has to go... My analysis is that the situation is very bad and the current government can no longer function," she said further raising concerns regarding the country's future.

She added, "A gas crisis is on the horizon and electricity bills are already worth Rs 100,000 and over... Voices from within arise when they supersede others."

Who is Maryam Nawaz?

Maryam Nawaz is married to Muhammad Safdar, another leader of the PML-N party. Her father Nawaz Sharif has been residing in London since November 2019. She recently lost her grandmother Begum Shamim Akhtar, who had passed away last week.

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Nawaz started her political career in 2012 and was put in charge of her father’s election campaign in 2013. The same year, she was named as the chairperson of the prime minister’s youth program, however, a year later she had to quit the post after her appointment was challenged in a court. She is also at the forefront of a nationwide opposition movement to cast out Prime Minister Imran Khan, who came to power in a controversial election in 2018. On August 8, 2019, she was arrested at the Chaudhry Sugar Mills and later, on September 25, was sent to jail on judicial remand by an accountability court in Lahore. She was released on bail by the Lahore High Court on November 4.

Feature Image Credit: Daily Times

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