Pakistan mission submits reply in IHC on execution of Nawaz’s warrants

IHC orders advertisements to summon Nawaz be published in newspapers

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif should be summoned through advertisements published in newspapers published in the UK. 

The decision was taken after the Pakistan High Commission in London submitted their statement in the court regarding the execution of non-bailable arrest warrants for convicted former prime minister Nawaz.

“If Nawaz Sharif does not appear within 30 days after the advertisement is published, then he would be declared an absconder. An advertisement will also be pasted on Nawaz Sharif's residence in London,” instructed the court.

The IHC further said that the federal government should submit the receipt of the newspaper advertisement in the court within two days.

The PML-N supremo was declared a proclaimed offender earlier in September and had refused multiple times to receive the arrest warrants issued in his name. The arrest warrants were sent twice by-hand and once via Britain's Royal Mail.

The federal government had also written another letter to the UK for the deportation of the convicted former premier, who was allowed to fly to London for medical treatment in November 2019 but was later declared an absconder by some courts in Pakistan.

During the hearing earlier in the day, First Secretary Pakistan High Commission London Dildar Ali Abro's statement said that a secretary of one of Nawaz’s son, Waqar Ahmed, told him that he would receive Nawaz’s arrest warrants at former primer’s current residence in Park Lane.

Abro further said that he apprised the High Commission about the discussion with Ahmed regarding the execution of warrants and sought permission to execute them at the given address.

“After the approval from the authorities concerned, Ahmed had agreed to receive the arrest warrants on September 23 at 11:00 am (BST),” Abro said. “At 10:20 am, Waqar called me and refused to receive the warrants.”

Consul Attaché Pakistan High Commission London Rao Abdul Hanan said in his statement that he went to Nawaz Sharif's residence to enforce the non-bailable arrest warrants on September 17 at 6:35 pm [BST].

“Nawaz Sharif's personal employee, Muhammad Yaqub, refused to receive the arrest warrants thus they could not be executed.”

Foreign Ministry Director Europe Mubashir Khan also recorded his statement wherein he said that he has copies of Nawaz’s arrest warrants.

“The court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif in two appeals,” he said.”Arrest warrants were received by post which was sent in a diplomatic bag with a cover letter. Receipt and delivery of mail were registered in the register book.”