The Pakistani government should provide a tape recorder and a collection of songs by legendary Indian playback singer Mukesh to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is serving a seven-year prison term, according to the country’s Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid.
On Saturday, replying to a question on providing air conditioner to Sharif, Rashid said, "I am not against withdrawing the air-conditioning facility from Nawaz Sharif or any other leader lodged in the jail. Rather, I am in favour of providing a tape recorder and songs of Mukesh to him and others," according to a report by Indian news agency, PTI.
According to people close to Sharif, who is currently serving his jail term at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, has a taste for classic Bollywood songs.
The three-time premier was convicted in the Al Azizia Steel Mills case and sentenced to seven years in jail according to the Pakistan Supreme Court's July 28, 2017 verdict in the high-profile Panama Papers case. He has been serving the sentence since December 24, 2018.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has spoken against Sharif several times and pledged to ensure that Sharif is not provided an air conditioner or a television in the Kot Lakhpat jail.
During his first state visit to the US in July, speaking on the same issue he said: "I know Maryam Bibi [Nawaz Sharif's daughter] will make some noise, but I say to her, return the money. It's as simple as that.”
Similarly, in March, addressing a crowd in Pakistan’s Khan Garh, the premier said: "This country will not forgive you. You have only one route: give the country's money back and we will leave you be”
Sharif’s family, including his daughter Maryam Sharif have denied any acts of corruption and allege that the cases against them are a move to target them .
Three corruption cases were launched against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau in 2017 following a judgment by the Supreme Court that disqualified Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case in 2017. The cases were the Avenfield properties case, Flagship investment case and Al - Azizia steel mills case.
