Heroin slippers’ case: Couple goes to court fearing extradition

SHC throws out petition filed by couple for smuggling heroin in slippers.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has thrown out a petition filed by a couple arrested in June 2009 for smuggling heroin in slippers given to Umra pilgrims. The couple went to court fearing that they would be extradited to Saudi Arabia where they might be sentenced to death.

On Monday, the SHC division bench heard a constitutional petition filed by Syed Sarwat Hussain and his spouse Shafia Khanum. The case made the headlines last year after several innocent families headed for Umra, were arrested in Saudi Arabia with the slippers. They were brought back home after diplomatic efforts were made by the Pakistan government.

Deputy attorney general (DAG) Nazar Akbar submitted that neither had any extradition request been received from Saudi Arabia nor did the government intend to extradite them. The DAG said if any extradition request is received, it will be dealt with according to the law and the petitioners would be informed. After hearing the DAG’s statement, the petitioner’s lawyer said that he would not press the petitions and the bench disposed of it.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2010.