UK says it will never allow 'politically motivated' extradition

Qureshi assures UK of reviewing capital punishment and making amendments in the Pakistan penal code

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has clarified that "no extradition treaty signed by the UK would ever allow for politically motivated extradition".

The British envoy made the statement during a joint press conference along with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in London at the fourth review of Pakistan-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue.

Upon his turn to respond to the same question on extradition, Qureshi said, "Pakistan does not want to use extradition for political victimisation, that's not the idea."



"We feel extradition is important. And we have also discussed in my meeting with the [British] home secretary that the impediment [...] was the issue of capital punishment and we have resolved that by taking a decision that we are going to make amendments in the Pakistan penal code to address this issue," Qureshi added.

"So this [extradition] will not be misused, but it is a requirement which needs to be discussed," he added.

The statements by the British foreign secretary and FM Qureshi come after reports emerged recently that a deal has been reached between Pakistan and the UK for the extradition of former finance minister Ishaq Dar to Pakistan.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been declared a proclaimed offender in assets beyond means case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).



Earlier in June, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar had claimed, “As part of the MoU, the British authorities will arrest Dar and present him before an English magistrate. The process to repatriate Dar is underway and he will be here after completion of the process.”

During their meeting in London, Pakistan and the UK reaffirmed commitment to take the bilateral relationship forward and work for shared prosperity.

Matters related to security, regional tensions, Pakistan’s progress on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), climate change, development cooperation, culture, education and business and investment were also discussed.

British Foreign Secretary Hunt announced UK Department for International Trade's decision to double the available support for exports to Pakistan from up to £400 million to £1 billion as part of the growing cooperation in economic terms between the two countries.