LAHORE:
To express solidarity with the female prisoners in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail where she was once incarcerated, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday had Iftar (broke her fast) with them.
Maryam also planted a tree in the lawn of the jail. She directed the prison authorities to plant more trees.
The Punjab chief minister also visited the cell where her father, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, was imprisoned during his time in jail.
She inaugurated a dedicated 20-bed hospital for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and a video call facility for prisoners in Kot Lakhpat jail.
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She visited the jail kitchen and inspected the food prepared for the prisoners and checked its quality.
Maryam also interacted with the prisoners, inquiring about their problems and requirements.
On the Punjab CM’s instructions, the female inmates were given monetary assistance of Rs15,000, clothes and bangles.
Similarly, the male prisoners were provided with Rs15,000 and clothes.
The iftar menu was prepared according to Maryam’s instructions. It included biryani, fruit, pakoras, samosas, and other items.
In a post on social media platform X, Maryam shared that it was an emotional moment to see the cell of her father, a three-time former premier, was kept in.
“I was in the same jail but never allowed to visit him. Got to see it today,” she added.
The Punjab CM continued that by the grace of the Almighty, her father was a “kingmaker” today while the “oppressors” were nowhere.
In another post, she wrote that a video call facility for prisoners at Kot Lakhpat jail had become operational from today.
“Two calls a week, 20 [minutes] duration each would allow them more interaction with their families as opposed to one weekly meeting that seldom happened due to difficult family situations,” she added.
