ISLAMABAD: Senators from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday called for proper medical facilities to be given to former president Asif Ali Zardari in jail.

Speaking on a point of order in the Senate, Sherry Rahman said the former president should be provided all the necessary medical facilities as per the rules. She claimed that despite the court’s permission, PPP leaders were not allowed to meet Zardari at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science.

Citing medical reports, she claimed that three of Zardari’s arteries were blocked and he was suffering from severe spinal issues due to which he needed immediate medical attention. He was kept in jail without any conviction, she added.

“We are not against accountability but it should be across the board without any discrimination,” she said.

Leader of the Opposition Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said Zardari and other detained leaders should be dealt with according to the law.

PPP’s Rahman Malik said Zardari should be taken to hospital immediately as per recommendations of the medical board.

According to the jail manual, authorities were supposed to follow the advice of the medical board as Zardari was suffering from high blood pressure and high sugar level, he claimed.

Maula Bakhsh Chandio of the PPP said the former president had surrendered all the powers to the Parliament.

Usman Kakar alleged that despite the court order, Zardari’s children were barred from meeting him.

PML-N’s Mohammad Javed Abbasi also asked the government to treat detained political leaders properly.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan Swati said all the cases against the PML-N and PPP leaders were instituted by the Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf.

The National Accountability Bureau was an independent institution and the PTI government was not interfering into its affairs, he added.

About the medical facility for Zardari, he said the Minister of Interior was the right person to inform the House in that regard. He was scheduled to attend an event in Lahore today and he would apprise the House in detail on his return to the capital, the minister added.