ISLAMABAD: Claims that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf extradited hundreds of Pakistani nationals – mainly to the US in exchange for US dollars — resurfaced when former Justice Javed Iqbal, chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, said as many as 4,000 Pakistanis were “secretly handed over” to foreign countries, during his rule.
Justice Iqbal made his statement in a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights on Monday, adding that Musharraf’s Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao was aware of the deal.
“How could someone secretly hand over the Pakistani nationals to any other country?” asked Iqbal, describing the actions illegal, unlawful and a violation of human rights.
Iqbal, a retired judge, who chairs the country’s anti-corruption watchdog National Accountability Bureau (NAB), added: “They received (US) dollars in return ... Parliament should get this investigated.”
However, the claims have been rejected as “baseless” and ”exaggerated” by Musharraf's and Sherpao's political parties.
“... without evidence, without any proof, without any witnesses, they are leveling outlandish allegations on a former president which amounts to no less than character assassination,” said Mahreen Malik Adam, spokesperson for Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), while talking to Arab News.
She said: “Around 400 people were handed over and they were not Pakistanis. They were foreigners from across the border who were involved in terrorist activities damaging Pakistan’s image.”
“This is a lie,” said Faqir Hussain, a veteran and loyalist of Sherpao’s Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), speaking to Arab News. Hussain said it was out of the question that his party chief Sherpao would resort to profiting from extraditing Pakistanis. “If there is any proof, we would like them to take the matter to court,” Hussain added.
A 2006 Amnesty International report said that authorities in Pakistan rounded up hundreds of people, who were accused of committing terrorist acts, and handed them to US authorities for rewards or detained individuals at undisclosed locations. Some were kept in US prisons.
The report, entitled “Pakistan: Human Rights Ignored in the ‘War on Terror’,” accused Pakistan of human rights violations for monetary and other gains from US and its allies.
Musharraf, who ruled from 1999-2008, took control of Pakistan in a bloodless military coup, toppling the democratically elected government. A number of court cases against him are pending. He currently lives in the UAE.
Adam strongly refuted accusations that Musharraf stepped out of line in contravention of the law. “The assertions (are) malign and disrespect Pakistan, not just Musharraf, and our party will respond accordingly.”
NAB chief accuses Musharraf of handing over 4,000 Pakistanis to US
NAB chief accuses Musharraf of handing over 4,000 Pakistanis to US
- Former army chief's party spokesperson rubbishes claim.
- Adam strongly refuted accusations that Musharraf stepped out of line in contravention of the law.
Australia to deploy long-range reconnaissance plane to Gulf
- The government says there are about 115,000 Australian nationals across the Middle East, of whom about 2,600 have returned home.
SYDNEY: Australia will deploy a long-range military reconnaissance plane to the Gulf to protect civilians, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday.
An E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and supporting defense force personnel will be sent for an initial period of four weeks to help “protect and secure the airspace above the Gulf,” Albanese told a news conference.
Australia also plans to provide advanced, medium-range air-to-air missiles to the United Arab Emirates “in response to a request,” the prime minister said.
The UAE, in which there are an estimated 24,000 Australians, has shot down more than 1,500 rockets and drones fired by Iran in reprisal following US-Israeli strikes, he said.
Albanese said he decided to send the advanced radar surveillance plane to the Gulf following a discussion with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“The first priority of my government is, and always will be, to keep Australians safe,” the prime minister said.
“Helping Australians means also helping the UAE and other Gulf nations to defend themselves against what are unprovoked attacks,” he added.
“My government has been clear that we’re not taking offensive action against Iran, and we’ve been clear that we are not deploying Australian troops on the ground in Iran.”
The government says there are about 115,000 Australian nationals across the Middle East, of whom about 2,600 have returned home.
“Significant challenges remain, and further work is underway to support those still seeking to leave,” Albanese said.
Australia said last week it had deployed a heavy transport plane and a fuel transport plane to the Middle East as part of plans to get its citizens out of the region.
Canberra has been careful to make clear that its forces are not engaging in offensive operations against Iran.
On Friday, Albanese revealed that Australian military personnel were aboard an American submarine that sank an Iranian navy ship off Sri Lanka.
The personnel were on the submarine as part of training arrangements under AUKUS, a multi-decade defense pact with Britain and the United States, he said, stressing that they did not take part in the attack.
