ISLAMABAD, September 9: The federal government has cancelled the passports of former finance minister Ishaq Dar and his wife.
Sources revealed to The Express Tribune on Saturday night that the Foreign Office had cancelled the diplomatic passports of Dar and his wife, who were staying in the United Kingdom (UK).
It is learnt that Dar and his wife possess diplomatic passports. Under the law, Dar was bound to surrender his and wife’s diplomatic passports within 30 days of ceasing office as the federal finance minister. After surrendering diplomatic passports, they may get ordinary passports.
Legal experts say that in view of cancellation of passport, his movement will be halted and he’d not be able travel from England to another country. However, Dar may get political asylum. Interpol has yet taken a decision on Pakistan’s request, regarding extradition of Dar. However, the agency intervenes in very rare cases. Currently, three high-profile individuals – former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, Hussain Haqqani and Dar – are absconders. However, the bench has asked the government to make efforts for extradition of Haqqani and Dar. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been asked to approach Interpol for extradition of Haqqani, who is facing trial for his controversial memo sent to the US authorities in 2011 during the last Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in a bid to seek help against the military establishment. Interpol has refused to cooperate in the matter related to Musharraf. However, the interior ministry has also contacted it for the extradition of Hussain and Hassan, former premier Nawaz Sharif’s sons, who have also been declared absconders by the accountability court. – Agencies
