Govt could then have Pakistani prisoners in US, other countries repatriated. PHOTO: AFP
Ministry of Law and Justice advised the upcoming government to ratify the Council of Europe convention relating to the transfer of convicted prisoners from the United States, The Express Tribune has learnt.
“In its recommendations, the law ministry advised Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior to ratify the European convention for the transfer of prisoners,” said Caretaker Law Minister Ahmer Bilal Soofi.
The ratification of the treaty with Washington will enable Islamabad to seek repatriation of Pakistani citizens imprisoned in US as well as other countries which have ratified the agreement.
However, Soofi said the matter is tricky and may take some more time in obtaining US’ final consent.
Pakistan is negotiating over the agreement concerning the transfer of offenders with approximately two dozen countries.
The law ministry has been given the task to finalise the procedural matters. This issue has also been taken up by the federal cabinet in the past when Dr Aafia Siddiqui was convicted by a US court.
The law minister said the government had two options to seek repatriation of convicted Pakistani prisoners. Either they could join a bilateral treaty called the Inter-American Convention or ratify the Council of European convention to repatriate Pakistani prisoners.
“We preferred the European treaty because it was appropriate,” Soofi said. If Pakistan ratifies the bilateral Inter-American Convention, then only convicted prisoners can be repatriated from Pakistan to US and vice versa.
Pakistan did not want to ratify the bilateral treaty as it was complicated and could also ask for the repatriation of accused persons. For instance, through the treaty, US could demand Dr Abdul Qadir Khan’s repatriation, who was accused of transferring nuclear technology to some states illegally.
After being advised by the law ministry, caretaker Interior Minister Malik Habib sought a No objection Certificate (NoC) from the Foreign Office for an agreement with the US on the transfer of prisoners.
Washington has showed its willingness to cooperate with Pakistan over the exchange of prisoners. The outgoing government also endorsed the foreign ministry’s suggestion for Pakistan to sign the Council of Europe Convention to take up Dr Aafia’s case, as well as that of other prisoners.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2013.
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All those Anti-US folks in Pakistan will be handed to US when Israel takes over Jerusalem. Don't say you havent been warned.
Please be aware that (unmentioned in the article) the TERMS of such an agreement require that the convicted prisoner must SERVE OUT THEIR SENTENCE in the country of transfer! Asking the Americans to send Dr Aafia back to Pakistan under such a treaty is probably a non starter, since the Americans correctly realize that she would almost immediately be set free as a "national hero" rather than serve out her long sentence due to public pressure on the Pakistani government!
"If Pakistan ratifies the bilateral Inter-American Convention, then only convicted prisoners can be repatriated from Pakistan to US and vice versa.
Pakistan did not want to ratify the bilateral treaty as it was complicated and could also ask for the repatriation of accused persons."
So which is it, does the bilateral treaty mean that only convicts can be repatriated, or both convicted and accused persons?
Also, are you sure you mean repatriation and not extradition? Because the example of AQ Khan you used above would be an extradition, not a repatriation.