British media reports over extradition prospects of former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif from London
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Pakistan’s information minister said Friday that Islamabad link has started the legal process to reach an extradition link with Britain that would pave the way for the U.K. to hand over former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif link
The development comes after a top Pakistani link court earlier this month declared Sharif, who lives in self-imposed exile in London, a fugitive from justice for failing to return home to face additional corruption charges.
Information Minister Shibli Faraz told The Associated Press that it's the responsibility of British authorities not to allow “convicted criminals like Sharif” to remain there. Sharif was sentenced to seven years in prison in a separate case, for corruption and money laundering in 2018.
“We are trying, we have tried and we will try" to bring back Sharif, Shibli said in the interview.
Pakistan currently has no extradition treaty with Britain. There was no immediate comment from the U.K. on the development. The process will likely take years and could face stiff resistance in parliament.
Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party is currently holding nationwide rallies demanding Sharif's successor, Prime Minister Imran Khan link step down by the end of the month over alleged bad governance and failing to improve the country's economy.
Khan refuses to resign, and the opposition has vowed to walk out of parliament and provincial assemblies in 2021 to force early mid-term elections. Khan says the elections would be held — but only to fill seats vacated by opposition members.
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