Pakistan signs extradition treaty with Malaysia

Motive behind KL Summit was neither to divide Muslim Ummah nor to create a parallel organisation: FM Qureshi

KUALA LAMPUR: Pakistan on Tuesday signed an extradition treaty with Malaysia on the sidelines of Prime Minister Imran Khan's official visit to Kuala Lampur.

In a video message, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the two sides signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs). One of which included an extradition treaty to discourage fugitives from seeking refuge in either country.

The other MoU was a social protection agreement aimed to provide cover to over 82,000 Pakistanis with blue-collar jobs in the south Asian country. The agreement ensures that Pakistani workers who are disabled or fall sick due to their employment receive a life-long relief fund while the families of those who pass away will receive pension amount proportionate to their last salary.

Previously, Qureshi claimed, such expatriates would receive a meagre amount.

The foreign minister also expressed his delight at the 35 per cent increase seen in remittance from Malaysia in the year 2019. "$1.55 billion were remitted," he added.

Elaborating on the visit, Qureshi said the two sides discussed bilateral issues focussing on converting the ties into a strategic economic partnership. "Trade, investment, rice export and palm oil impotr were deliberated upon," he said. "Pakistan wants to learn from Malaysia's tourism experience - infrastructure, investment and development.



On the KL summit, Qureshi reiterated that the leadership had clarified once again the motive behind the conclave was neither to divide the Muslim Ummah nor to create a parallel organisation. "Our focus was on economic cooperation, governance, development and relying on each other for bilateral issues."

The foreign minister asserted that Islamabad remained steadfast on the joint television project to combat Islamophobia as agreed upon between PM Imran Khan, Dr Mahathir and Turkish President Recap Tayyip Erdogan during the United Nations General Assembly last year. "PM Imran has dismissed the misconceptions on that as well," he added.

The premier flew to the Southeast Asian country in a bid to underline importance Pakistan attaches to Kuala Lumpur. The visit is seen as significant since it comes merely a few weeks after the Kuala Lumpur summit. the premier pulled out of the event attended by leaders from Iran, Turkey, Qatar besides host Malaysia.

Pakistan initially confirmed its participation at the summit but changed its mind after Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries voiced concerns over it.

Riyadh viewed the summit as an attempt to create a new Islamic bloc. Islamabad made frantic efforts to convince the Saudi leadership to join the moot but could not bridge the differences between Kuala Lumpur and the oil-rich kingdom.