ISLAMABAD – Once reaching the Adiala Jail, what jail class Nawaz Sharif andMaryam Nawaz will be put in?

According to a report, Mr Sharif will be sent to a jail of the ‘BetterClass’ category for being a former parliamentarian, but Maryam doesn’t havethis virtue. She can avail the facility only if she proves that she haspaid at least Rs600,000 as annual income tax.

She will be required to submit an application and the plea will go throughformal process of scrutiny before being granted a particular jail category.

The classification of jails in Punjab was changed to ‘Better Class’ and‘Ordinary Class’ through an amendment to the Punjab Jails Rules followingthe Lahore High Court orders some years ago.

Former PM Sharif can get a Better Class jail if he submits an applicationfor that category. While Maryam will need to prove she is annual income taxpayer of Rs 600,000 because she is neither a former nor serving gazettedmilitary or civil officer.

Facilities in the Better Class jail include access to books and newspapers,a 21-inch television, a table and a chair, a mattress, personal bedding andclothing. And incarcerated persons will have to pay for all thesefacilities.

On July 6, the accountability court sentenced former premier Nawaz Sharifto a total of 10 years in prison and directed him to pay a fine of £8million after finding him guilty on different charges in the Avenfieldproperties case.

Judge Muhammad Bashir found Mr. Sharif guilty of accumulating assets beyondhis known sources of income.

He handed out seven-year imprisonment to the former premier’s daughterMaryam Nawaz and a fine of £2 million. She has been awarded an additionalone year’s imprisonment on charges of using Calibri font to fabricateAvenfield properties trust deeds.

Whereas, her husband Captain retired Safdar has been awarded one year’sjail term.