Pakistan assures UK full cooperation in Imran Farooq case

UK government has no role in Imran Farooq case, said UK High Commissioner.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan assured the British government of Pakistan’s cooperation in the Imran Farooq murder case.

Nisar was talking to High Commissioner of UK to Pakistan Philip Barton in Islamabad on Friday.

The minister said that Pakistan will fulfill all international obligations as required under the law.

UK’s Metropolitan police had recently published pictures of two suspects in the case and earlier in the year, the Metropolitan police had sought access to two suspects who had reportedly left the UK immediately after Imran Farooq had been murdered.

Some reports suggested that both the suspects were arrested immediately after they landed in Karachi, which Pakistani authorities had rejected claiming that that there is no record that these suspects had been taken into custody by police or any other civil law enforcement agencies.

Clarifying UK’s position, the high commissioner said that contrary to what was being propagated in certain sections of Pakistan, the UK government has no role in Farooq's case.

He added that the courts and Metropolitan police in UK are independent in ongoing investigation and its scope.

Expressing his views on bilateral relations between Pakistan and UK, Nisar said that both countries enjoy the special relations as a result of which the mutual cooperation in different areas is getting stronger with the passage of time.

Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to work closely with new Afghan government for establishing lasting peace in the region, the minster said that close Pakistan-UK relations can play very important role in the developing geo-political scenario of the region.

He also appreciated the British Government for hosting immigrants from Pakistan whose role is important in economic development of Pakistan.

Praising the commitment of Pakistan in establishing lasting peace in the region, the envoy said UK is ready to provide all kind of support in implementing Internal Security Policy of Pakistan.

Barton also highlighted the areas like counter terrorism, counter human and drug trafficking where UK could play even more effective role by enhancing the capacity of civil armed forces by institutional support and specialised training.