Nawaz Sharif's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, refuses the comfort of prison

Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Pakistan's former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who was jailed with her father, rejected an offer for better facilities in jail.

Sharif, 68, and Maryam, 44, were detained in the Avenfield corruption case, shortly after arriving at London's Lahore airport last night.

They were flown to Islamabad aboard a special plane, and then taken to Adiala Prison in separate armored personnel carriers, escorted by police convoys.

Hailing from a wealthy family, Maryam is entitled to a Clbad B jail, which lists facilities like a mattress, a table and chair, a ceiling fan, a 21-inch television and a newspaper.

However, she refused and her handwritten, signed letter is widely circulated in the media. It reads as follows: "The superintendent of the prison has offered better facilities, in accordance with the rules, which I have refused of my own free will, which is purely my own decision, taken without pressure from anyone.

However, her father and her husband Muhammad Safdar sought and obtained clbad B facilities, according to prison officials. Sharif is entitled to a "Clbad A", being a former prime minister. Safdar is entitled to clbad B as a former officer and parliamentarian.

The incarcerated Sharifs also met their family members for the first time last night. Among the visitors were Sharif's elderly mother, Shamim Akhtar, Shahbaz's brother, Maryam Meharun Nisa's daughter, and Shahbaz's son Hamza Shahbaz.

The meeting was held in the warden's room and continued for more than two hours. Officials said the meeting was organized after the government gave special permission.

The prison authorities also set Thursday as the day of the meeting of the Sharifs' family. The normal day to meet prisoners is Friday.

Up to now, no party leader or worker has visited them except the members of the legal team to consult and obtain signatures on the documents to file an appeal to the High Court of Islamabad, which should be tabled on Monday.

While the Sharfis were in prison, no unusual political activity or agitation was reported except for the organized gatherings on the day of their arrival on July 13th.

However, Shahbaz said yesterday that all "legal and political" means will be used to get Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law out of the prison.

Analysts see a long legal and political battle ahead and much will depend on the outcome of the July 25 elections. Poor performance could force Shahbaz, who is president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, to reject the result.

He also said that his party will not accept results if the elections are rigged.

Sharif and Maryam were sentenced by a court of responsibility to 10 and 7 years in prison, respectively.

Sharif was disqualified as Prime Minister by the Supreme Court last year in the Panama Papers case.

Sharif has been one of the country's leading politicians for most of the past 30 years. It remains popular, especially in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous and largest province.