Dar's request for political asylum implies that he is guilty: Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s request for political asylum in the United Kingdom is testament that he is guilty, and that he would not have fled the country otherwise.

“Ishaq Dar’s political asylum request in Britain proves that he is criminal. If his hands were clean then he wouldn’t have fled the country,” he said in a statement on social media site Twitter.

He said people of Pakistan want the international community to support them against those who have been involved in corruption and looted the nation to face accountability and receive justice.

He said a request for political asylum by someone involved in corruption will be test for the British government and the law enforcers over there.

The federal minister said that the courts and institutions in Pakistan fulfill all legal requirements and are capable to dispense their responsibilities impartially without any discrimination.

Therefore, he said that Ishaq Dar should return and face the courts, and absconding implies that he is responsible for his actions. He said the law will find its own course and take action against the fugitive.

Dar applies for political asylum in UK

The embattled Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader has reportedly applied for political asylum in the UK after his Pakistani passport was revoked by the authorities.

Dar reportedly visited the Home Office in London a few days ago for an interview seeking political asylum. His family has refrained from confirming that Dar has requested political asylum stating that he is legally living in the UK.

However, his son Ali Dar denied reports of his father seeking political asylum. He said that his father visited the Home Office as his Pakistani nationality and passport has been revoked, and had to clarify his legal status in the UK.

He said that the senior Dar also submitted his medical reports, and took a photograph with certain officers of the Home Office which is not evidence that he has applied for political asylum.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shehzad Akbar has also refused to confirm whether Dar has applied for political asylum, but said he was not surprised by such a move by him.

He said that he received the news from the media and cannot verify at his stage. He said that he is visiting the UK for one week and will seek to confirm the report.

He said that the government has also sent an application seeking to extradite Dar from the UK, but there cannot be any diplomatic stiff over him.

Dar is currently absconding from several cases in Pakistan and has been declared a proclaimed offender by the courts. He is facing charges of accumulating assets beyond known sources of income.