Pakistan will be able to extradite its criminals from Britain, the agreement is signed

LAHORE: An agreement on the return of criminals and those who violate immigration laws have been signed between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

British Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote on the social networking site Twitter that "I am proud to have signed a historic new agreement with our Pakistani friends to return foreign criminals and immigration offenders from the UK to Pakistan."  

"The deal demonstrates our #NewPlanForImmigration in action as we deliver for the British people," he added.

In another tweet on Twitter, he wrote that our agreement between Pakistan and the UK is about the removal of dangerous aliens and immigration criminals who have no right to be in the UK. The British public has had enough of people abusing our laws and gaming the system to avoid sanctions. That is what we are changing.

With the agreement, Pakistan and Britain will be able to repatriate their convicted criminals. However, it will only allow the repatriation of citizens convicted by the relevant courts.

It should be noted that in January of this year, the special committee formed regarding the agreement on the custody of criminals with the United Kingdom said that the agreement on the return of criminals with the United Kingdom will be signed in the best public interest.

At a committee meeting on January 17, it was decided that an extradition treaty with the UK would be signed in the best public interest, with further consultation with the UK before the deal was taken to the federal cabinet. After consultation, the agreement will be submitted to the Federal Cabinet for final approval.

It should be noted that the first round of negotiations on the extradition agreement was held in October 2019 under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government. Later in April 2021, then Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed met British High Commission Christian Turner and discussed the return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in London after being released from prison on medical grounds.