Govt cancels Dar’s diplomatic passport

ISLAMABAD : The federal government has cancelled the passports of former finance minister Ishaq Dar and his wife.

Sources revealed to The Express Tribune on Saturday night that the Foreign Office had cancelled the diplomatic passports of Dar and his wife, who were staying in the United Kingdom (UK).

It is learnt that Dar and his wife possess diplomatic passports. Under the law, Dar was bound to surrender his and wife’s diplomatic passports within 30 days of ceasing office as the federal finance minister. After surrendering diplomatic passports, they may get ordinary passports.



Legal experts say that in view of cancellation of passport, his movement will be halted and he’d not be able travel from England to another country. However, Dar may get political asylum. Interpol has yet taken a decision on Pakistan’s request, regarding extradition of Dar. However, the agency intervenes in very rare cases.

Currently, three high-profile individuals – former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, Hussain Haqqani and Dar – are absconders. However, the bench has asked the government to make efforts for extradition of Haqqani and Dar.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been asked to approach Interpol for extradition of Haqqani, who is facing trial for his controversial memo sent to the US authorities in 2011 during the last Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in a bid to seek help against the military establishment.

Interpol has refused to cooperate in the matter related to Musharraf. However, the interior ministry has also contacted it for the extradition of Hussain and Hassan, former premier Nawaz Sharif’s sons, who have also been declared absconders by the accountability court.



Last week, Additional Attorney General for Pakistan (AAGP) Nayyar Rizvi told the bench, “The government has already approached Interpol for extradition of Dar and is now awaiting a response. Generally the Interpol takes three months to complete its requirements regarding repatriation of an accused.”

Regarding cancellation of Dar’s passport and CNIC, Rizvi said he had already moved an application to explain the process regarding the cancellation of these documents. However, he said, Dar may get political asylum due to the cancellation of his official documents. It is learnt that fresh report regarding the cancellation of Dar’s diplomatic passport will be submitted in the apex court on Monday (tomorrow). The court will take up the matter on Tuesday.

On the last date of hearing, the interior secretary, the foreign secretary, the NAB prosecutor general and the FIA officials appeared before the bench. Later, they held a meeting wherein it was decided that the Foreign Office would cancel Dar and his wife’s passports.

Dar is wanted in two cases. Likewise, he has also been declared an absconder by an accountability court in the Panamagate case reference against him.