Federal govt cancels Dar’s diplomatic passport

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  • Report on cancellation to be presented before apex court on Monday

  • Interpol is yet to decide on extradition request

ISLAMABAD: The federal government Saturday night cancelled the passports of former finance minister Ishaq Dar and his wife after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar had issued orders to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to bring back the former finance minister to Pakistan within 10 days on Thursday.

Dar and his wife and currently staying in the United Kingdom. The duo are carrying diplomatic passports but according to law, had to surrender them to officials within 30 days of leaving his office as the finance minister.

However, they may be issued ordinary passports later.

A report on the cancellation of Dar’s diplomatic passport is scheduled to be presented before the Supreme Court on Monday.

The former finance minister is wanted over two charges. He has also been declared an absconder by an accountability court in Panamagate reference case.

According to legal experts, after the cancellation, Dar will not be able to travel away from England to any other country and may apply for a political asylum. Meanwhile, Interpol has not yet decided on Pakistan’s extradition request as the organisation does not normally intervene in such matters.

The NAB has also been directed to obtain Interpol’s assistance in extraditing former ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani. The international organisation had previously refused to offer cooperation in extraditing former president Pervez Musharraf from UAE.

The federal government has also approached Interpol to extradite sons of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz.

“The government has already approached Interpol for extradition of Dar and is now awaiting a response. Generally, the Interpol takes three months to complete its requirements regarding repatriation of an accused,” said Additional Attorney General for Pakistan Nayyar Rizvi last week.

On Thursday, CJP Nisar had inquired about the efforts put in by NAB and the current government to bring back the former finance minister and issued directives to take measures which would ensure his return to Pakistan within the next 10 days.

He had asked if Dar could continue living in Britain if his passport was to be cancelled?

Responding to Justice Nisar, the additional attorney general had apprised the court that the absconder could take asylum in UK in case of the cancellation of his passport. “If this is the case then he must take asylum there and cite the reason that Pakistani courts are being unfair,” the chief justice had remarked.

“The court is upset at the fact that Dar has repeatedly ignored summons,” Justice Nisar had said.

The additional attorney general had also informed the apex court that NAB has declared Dar an absconder and has “referred the matter to Interpol”.

The former finance minister is accused of possessing assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income.

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