IHC seeks report on deporting Ibrahim Koko

The Islamabad High Court has sought a report from the foreign office on deporting an international drug trafficker, Ibrahim Koko, to Thailand.

Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani on Wednesday conducted the hearing into the case pertaining to the deportation of Ibrahim Koko, who is said to be an ethnic Rohingya, to Thailand. The IHC had earlier directed the interior ministry to implement the court order and deport Koko who is in Pakistani jail to Thailand till the next date of hearing.

The court also ordered that the interior ministry’s secretary and the director general would be summoned if a report related to the inquiry against the officers, who were involved in illegally bringing the drug smuggler to the country, not presented in the court.

In his remarks, Justice Kiyani said: “Officers who formed illegal documents of the accused [Koko] include office holders from the interior ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency.” He demanded an explanation from the officials concerned about the institutional inquiry taken against such officers.

“Ibrahim Koko is not a Pakistani citizen,” the assistant attorney general said, adding that the drug trafficker could not be sent to Thailand. The assistant attorney general added that talks are under way with the Thailand Embassy on the deportation of Koko.

Bewildered Justice Kiyani lamented that the “government structure is so weak”. “You people are bringing foreigners here and making them Pakistani citizens. At what capacity, Koko has been kept in jail for the last four years,” the judge said.

The court observed that the accused was brought into Pakistan through illegal documents. “What kind of impression is being given to the world... that Pakistan is a safe haven for accused persons,” the court observed and remarked that the people from interior ministry are also involved in such a matter.

The court after seeking responses from the parties adjourned the hearing till January 19.