Govt accepts legal hurdles in Nawaz, Dar extradition

Says Pakistan does not have an extradition treaty with Britain; assures PM Imran "not going anywhere"

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed acknowledged on Friday that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar's return to Pakistan was not in the government's hands, as the country did not have an extradition treaty with Britain.

Sharif, who was declared absconder by a court earlier this year, has been residing in London since last year after he was granted a four-week permission to travel abroad for his medical treatment.

Dar had also been declared an absconder following his repeated absence from hearing of cases pending against him. He is also currently residing in London.

While talking to the media in Islamabad, the interior minister maintained that he was sure that Prime Minister Imran Khan was not going anywhere. The statement was in reference to the opposition's January 31 ultimatum, calling on the PM Imran-led government to resign.

He said that if the premier won a majority in the Senate elections the "corrupt and dishonest politicians" would be dealt with strict laws.

Dismissing the opposition's resistance to early Senate elections, the interior minister said he was seeing the opposition take part in the elections.

“Senate elections can be held between February 12 and March 13,” he said, “Can't say anything definitively because all will be known after the Supreme Court's decision,” he added.

Rashid said that if the opposition parties' members resign from the assemblies then elections would be held on their seats.

Further criticising the opposition for holding its large public meetings, the interior minister said that [the leadership of] the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) did not care about the pandemic.

NADRA reforms

Speaking of the National Database & Registration Authority's (NADRA) functions, the interior minister said that from this week onwards the national registry's offices would remain open on Sunday.

Moreover, he announced that the first identity card would be provided free of cost, and made in 15 days.

“NADRA and passport offices will be opened in all embassies of Pakistan,” the minister stated, adding that "Problems of overseas Pakistanis will be solved in two months".

The interior minister further announced that a NADRA mobile vans would be sent to remote areas in order to ease its access for people living in far off areas.

Rashid added that the matter of transiting Afghan nationals was sensitive as millions were crossing in and out of the border without passports.

He further added that more NADRA centres were being opened across the country, and appreciated the services rendered by 16,000 NADRA employees in 677 centres.