Red warrants for Ishaq Dar issued, SC told

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was informed on Saturday that red warrants against former finance minister Ishaq Dar have been issued after the Ministry of Interior’s approval to seek Interpol’s help for his extradition. 

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, who was heading a bench of the apex court, questioned the Attorney General of Pakistan as to whether the passport of the PML-N leader has been revoked or not to which he replied in the negative.

The chief federal law officer informed that the Ministry of Interior has approved the issuance of red warrants for extradition of Mr. Dar with the help of Interpol. He said he now awaited Interpol’s response to start the extradition proceedings.

The AGP told the judges that a proceeding to confiscate the properties held by the PML-N leader in Pakistan has been initiated. However, his passport has yet not been revoked since he could refuse to return to Pakistan citing cancellation of the passport.

The hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.

During the previous hearing, the CJP asked the finance secretary about the whereabouts of Mr. Dar. “How Ishaq Dar can be brought back to the country? he asked.

Justice Aijaz-ul-Ahsan, a member of the bench, inquired about arrangements so far made to bring Dar back.

To which,  an official of the interior ministry responded that the request to issue red warrants has been sent and the matter is in the pipeline.

“What strategy does the interior ministry adopt in the matters related to bringing the accused back?” the top judge asked while mentioning that the former premier (Nawaz Sharif) kept meeting the accused [Ishaq Dar] in London.

“Do we have any mechanism to bring an absconder back to the country?” he asked.