Islamabad’s attempt to issue arrest warrants for Haqqani blocked by Interpol

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The International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly referred to as Interpol, on Sunday blocked all attempts launched by Islamabad to issue arrest warrants against Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States (US) Husain Haqqani.

Earlier Interpol had refused to honour warrants against Haqqani issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on the grounds that charges against him were political.

“The General Secretariat of the International Crimi­nal Police Organisation, Interpol, hereby certifies that as of today (April 18, 2018), Husain Haqqani is not subject to an Interpol Blue Notice or diffusion and is not known in Interpol’s data basis,” a letter released by Interpol’s office of legal affairs read.

The certificate was issued on the request of Haqqani’s lawyer amid newspaper reports in Pakistan that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FIA) director general went to Interpol headquarters in Lyon to seek warrants for his arrest.

Interpol had also rejected attempts by FIA for circulation of warrants against Haqqani.

On SCP’s insistence that Haqqani be brought back to Pakistan within a specified timeframe, the FIA registered a first information report (FIR) against him for embezzlement and other crimes, hoping it would get Interpol’s acceptance.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Haqqani said, “I feel vindicated in my belief that the proceedings against me in the so-called Memogate case are irrelevant in the eyes of the world.”

“A media frenzy has been cooked up in Pakistan with the backing of some elements that have specifically targeted me for my strong views and efforts towards bringing a change in the country,” he added.

Haqqani also said that he had not received any legal notice, court summons or arrest warrants from any authority in Pakistan through any legal channel.