SC orders strategy for Dar’s extradition within a week

islamabad — The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all the departments concerned to devise a strategy for extradition of former finance minister Ishaq Dar within a week.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heard the case pertaining to Dar’s return to the country.

During course of proceedings, the Attorney-General (AG) of Pakistan apprised the court that Dar’s diplomatic as well as ordinary passport has been cancelled and he possessed no travel documents.

“The interior ministry had also blacklisted him, however, still there are ways to get Dar extradited,” the AG added.

When the attorney-general said that Dar had no valid travel documents, the chief justice questioned, “Then how will he come back?” Justice Ijazul Ahsan said, “We have an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom.”

To this, the AG responded that there is a system in place through which he can be brought back, for that we will have to take this matter up in the courts over there.

The CJ remarked, “You must have the knowledge that Ishaq Dar has been declared an absconder by the National Accountability Bureau. Is the state still unable to bring Ishaq Dar back to Pakistan?”

Meanwhile, NAB prosecutor maintained that the properties of Dar had been identified and action was under way to attach them with the case.

Subsequently, the bench directed the relevant department to continue efforts and devise procedure within a week for Dar’s extradition. The hearing of the case was adjourned for one week. —