Pakistan asked to formally apply for Dar's extradition
The British government on Thursday rejected a petition to extradite Dar.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan may have to submit a formal application to the British government for the extradition of former finance minister Ishaq Dar.
The British government on Thursday rejected a petition to extradite the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, saying it has no formal extradition treaty with Pakistan.
The statement said that the UK has no formal extradition treaty with Pakistan. Section 194 of the extradition Act 2003 does allow special extradition arrangements in exceptional circumstances, it added.
However, under current law, an extradition process is initiated at the request of the government of the country in which the individual has been convicted of the crime. It would therefore be the Pakistani government’s responsibility to initiate such proceedings.
Islamabad has already cancelled the passports of Dar and his wife.
In November last year, the accountability court had declared ex-finance ninister Ishaq Dar absconder and rejected the minister’s petition in which he sought immunity from hearing of assets beyond known sources of income reference.
The court had further directed to release advertisement for Dar’s summoning. The court had also issued a show-cause notice to Ishaq Dar’s guarantor Ahmed Ali Quddusi and ordered him to submit reply by November 24.
The minister had made the request to get immunity from hearing on medical grounds as he is in London for heart treatment, and a fresh health report was also submitted in the court by his counsel. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) special prosecutor had opposed the report and requested the court to declare Ishaq Dar absconder.
