WASHINGTON: Pakistan government faces a setback over the issue of thearrest of Former Ambassador Hussain Haqqani from the United States.
The International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as Interpol,has assured Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani that ithas not issued an arrest warrants for him.
“The General Secretariat of the International Criminal PoliceOrganisation, Interpol, hereby certifies that as of today (April 18, 2018),Mr Husain Haqqani, born on July 1, 1956, is not subject to an Interpol BlueNotice or diffusion and is not known in Interpol’s data basis,” says aletter issued by Interpol’s office of legal affairs.
According to Mr Haqqani, his lawyer had contacted Interpol after the mediaran reports about an arrest warrant for him. In response, Interpol sent himthe letter.
Interpol notices are international requests for cooperation or alertsallowing police in member countries to share crime-related information.
A ‘blue notice’ is a request to collect additional information about aperson’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime. After ablue notice, Interpol can issue a ‘red notice’ to seek the location andarrest of wanted people with a view to extradition or similar lawful action.
A blue notice is the first step indicating Interpol’s interest in a personsought by the national police of a member state. A red notice follows ablue notice.
Earlier this month, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) announced inIslamabad that it had asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Mr Haqqani’sarrest.