ISLAMABAD – Interpol has dismissed Pakistan’s efforts to get theinternational organisation to issue a look out circular against the formerambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, local media reported on Monday.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court wants Haqqani, who has been living in the US forthe past few years, to return to the country and face charges ofembezzlement and other crimes.
“The General Secretariat of the International Criminal PoliceOrganisation, Interpol, hereby certifies that as of today (April 18, 2018),Husain Haqqani is not subject to an Interpol Blue Notice or diffusion andis not known in Interpol’s data basis,” said a letter released byInterpol’s office of legal affairs.
The letter was issued after Haqqani’s lawyer contacted Interpol followingmedia reports in Pakistan that the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA)had approached Interpol headquarters in Lyon to seek warrants for hisarrest.
Previously, Interpol had refused to honour warrants for the formerdiplomat’s arrest issued by the Supreme Court on the grounds that thecharges against him were political.
Following the top court’s insistence that Haqqani be brought back toPakistan, FIA registered a case against him for embezzlement and othercrimes, hoping it would get Interpol to accept its request.
“I feel vindicated in my belief that the proceedings against me in theso-called Memogate case are irrelevant in the eyes of the world,” Haqqanitold The Express Tribune newspaper.
He added: “It is only a media hoopla in Pakistan, which has been compoundedby some elements targeting me for my strong views and advocacy for changein the country.”
Haqqani said he had not received any notice, summons, or warrant fromPakistan through any legal channel.