ISLAMABAD - Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar has said that Pakistan and the United Kingdom have signed a treaty for extradition of criminals, while another treaty for extradition of accused persons will be signed by early next year.
Under the signed treaty, the Pakistani government has formally requested the British government to extradite former finance minister Ishaq Dar, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz to Pakistan, he revealed.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Nawa-i-Waqt on his return from Britain, he said that during his visit he met with key government figures there and took up important issues with them.
He also informed this scribe that Pakistan has requested the British government for the recovery of Rs2 billion from MQM founder Altaf Hussain in money-laundering case and has shared relevant information with them.
He said the NAB is also continuing its work against all the corrupt in the meanwhile.
Shahzad said that the agreement with the UK on extradition of criminals is a great achievement. What could not be done in last 15 years has been done by PTI soon after assuming power. Under this agreement, he said, both the countries can now exchange prisoners.
About the proposed treaty for extradition of accused, the PM’s aide said that groundwork has been done while progress was also made on cooperation between the two countries on issues like money laundering, corruption and white-collar crime.
Now the law enforcement institutions of the two countries can directly contact with each other for information exchange and other cooperation, he added.
To a query, Barrister Shahzad said the authorities would not wait for the signing of proposed treaty for extradition of accused in the matter of former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who has been declared an absconder.
The adviser said that UK government had raised a few questions on the demand for Dar’s extradition and those would be properly answered. His return would not be delayed till the signing of proposed treaty, he added.
Asked about ex-minister’s request for asylum, he said: “It does not matter.”
Shahzad added: “We made an appeal to the UK authorities that judiciary is independent in Pakistan and they (the accused) are not being victimised politically. Action is being taken against the people who looted taxpayers’ money.”
He said that Hassan Nawaz managed to get British citizenship through wealth, whereas Hussain Nawaz is not a British citizen. Hussain only has permanent residence visa, he claimed.
The special assistant vowed to bring back all the looted wealth of the country.
