ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally written a letter to the authorities in the United Kingdom, seeking extradition of the country’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan confirmed on Tuesday only a few days after the government accused the ex-premier of violating the medical bail conditions.
“The letter has been written to the UK for Nawaz Sharif’s deportation,” Awan said while addressing a press briefing after the federal cabinet meeting here in Islamabad.
She said the former PM had gone to London for treatment after submitting an affidavit in the court, and “we hope he’ll honor his commitment.”
The ex-premier was granted an eight-week medical bail in October last year to get medical treatment in London. The Islamabad High Court allowed him to request an extension from the provincial authorities of Punjab, but the latter turned down his plea last week, citing insufficient legal, moral or medical grounds.
The Punjab government had written several letters to Sharif to submit his medical reports from any hospital in London, but he failed to do that and instead dispatched a medical certificate which was not accepted by the board, Awan said.
“Nawaz Sharif has not been admitted to any UK hospital despite being there for the last 105 days,” she said. The government noted in the letter that the bail period of the ex-PM had expired and he should be extradited to serve his jail term.
In December 2018, Sharif was sentenced to seven years in jail for corruption. He denies any wrongdoing and has termed all charges against him as politically motivated.
Sharif’s party maintains that the three-time ex-premier is critically ill and should not return to Pakistan since that would compromise his medical treatment. “Nawaz Sharif won’t return to Pakistan unless he fully recovers,” Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, a senior PML-N leader, told Arab News on Monday.
According to legal experts, the possibility of Sharif’s deportation was limited in the absence of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and the UK.
“The government can request the UK authorities for Nawaz Sharif’s deportation, but the initiation of a legal process in absence of the extradition treaty is almost impossible,” Barrister Omer Malik told Arab News.
He said that sometimes governments of different countries cooperate with each other over certain issues, including extradition of convicted criminals in the absence of formal treaties.
“It totally depends on relevant UK departments as to how they take the government’s letter [requesting Sharif’s deportation] and if they would like to initiate any legal process on the basis of that,” Malik added.
Pakistan asks UK to extradite ex-PM Sharif
https://arab.news/7nxay
Pakistan asks UK to extradite ex-PM Sharif
- Government says Sharif is not admitted to any UK hospital for treatment
- Legal experts say Sharif’s deportation almost impossible in the absence of an extradition treaty
Pakistan president to visit UAE today to review trade, economic, defense ties
- President Asif Ali Zardari will lead a high-level delegation to the UAE from Jan. 26-29, says Pakistan’s FO
- Says Zardari to also discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest with UAE officials during visit
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will undertake an official four-day visit to the UAE today, Monday, to review bilateral ties between the two nations, particularly in the spheres of trade, economic partnership and security, Pakistan’s foreign office said.
Zardari will lead a high-level delegation to the UAE from Jan. 26-29, the foreign office said, during which he will also hold discussions with UAE officials on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
“During the visit, the president will hold high-level meetings with the UAE’s leadership to review the full spectrum of bilateral ties, especially in the domains of trade and economic partnership, defense and security, and people-to-people ties,” the statement said.
Zardari’s visit takes place after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Pakistan on his first official visit to the country late last month.
Pakistan and the UAE share close economic relations, with Abu Dhabi having provided critical support to Islamabad during its periods of financial stress. This support included deposits at Pakistan’s central bank that helped Islamabad shore up foreign exchange reserves amid a severe balance-of-payments crunch.
The Gulf nation is also Islamabad’s third-largest trading partner after China and the US. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.
Both nations have moved closer in recent months, signing agreements worth billions of dollars as Pakistan eyes greater trade and economic ties with Gulf states.
In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure sectors.
The UAE is also a major source of foreign investment in Pakistan, which has been valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry.
